AN EXHIBITION of carnival masks and model carts made and decorated by Bridgwater schoolchildren has ended with a panel of judges giving prizes for the best entries.

The judging panel, made up of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival President Rita Jones, town mayor Cllr Steve Austen, BBC Somerset’s Emma Britton, Donna and Rob Schroder, town council clerk Alan Hurford and Gremlins CC chairman Andy McLain took their time marking each of the impressive carnival masks and intricately detailed model carts before reaching a final verdict.

Their overall favourite mask and winner was Puriton Primary School’s entry, with Somerset Bridge Primary School coming in second and Bridgwater College Academy placed third.

The winner of the cart competition was Hollie Jenkins of Woolavington Primary School.

President Rita Jones told the Mercury: “So much time and effort has gone into every single entry – it’s such a difficult task to choose a winner.”

On show were all of the 26 carnival masks decorated by local schools and displayed in Bridgwater shops in the run up to the carnival.

Dave Stokes, publicity officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, said: “Local school children are the future of Bridgwater Carnival, and engaging children in Bridgwater Carnival activities is absolutely vital in ensuring the town’s carnival tradition continues to survive for many generations to enjoy.

“This exhibition enables the children to showcase all of the brilliant carnival related work they have been doing this year.”

Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival’s work with local schools has been made possible by the kind support received by the Arts Council England and Hinkley Point A, Cavendish Fluor.