PRESTWICH Carnival is set to be a right royal affair with this year's carnival queens in place and ready to go.

The carnival royalty is an integral part of the day and the annual Court of Queens event always attracts a large crowd.

The event gives the young girls an ideal opportunity to dress up in their finery and show their family and friends the result of all their hard work in preparing for the big day.

Each girl has to be immaculately turned out and judges award points for presentation, poise, personality and performance.

Prestwich Carnival 2004 will be the final assignment for reigning royalty, Natasha Ilkin, Alyshia McAvinue and Katie Schofield, who will lead the parade on Sunday, June 20.

They will also act as hosts to scores of visiting queens who will also take part in the procession and Court of Queens.

Recent selection ceremonies have resulted in a host of new girls to take over the titles of Carnival Royalty.

And a recent addition to the carnival celebrations, the Prestwich Lions Charity Queens, are proving a popular category.

Parade and queens organiser, Janet McAvinue, said: "I am very happy to welcome the new carnival royalty and we have a nice team of girls to join the others on carnival day. Being a carnival queen is not just about dressing up, it is actually hard work as the girls represent their town throughout the year and raise money for charity. We have every reason to be proud of our carnival royalty."

Prestwich Carnival takes place on Sunday, June 20.

Sponsored by the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, it features a host of attractions in St Mary's Park and a parade through the streets of Prestwich from 1pm.