WILL it fit? That was the question occupying the minds of Ashford Carnival's organisers as they looked at their lead float. As the town enjoyed its first real taste of summer sun on Sunday, a policeman rushed from the Stanhope Ring Road with a tape measure to see if the Folkestone, Dover and Deal Rock and Roll Club's massive Cadillac, Pink Lady, would fit through the barriers in Beaver Road and at the top of Bank Street.

In the end the float, towed by a tractor and packed full of teddy boys playing a range of hits, negotiated Beaver Road thanks to a missing post and had three inches to spare in Bank Street. Although this year's procession had a disappointing number of floats, those that took part stole the show.

The hypnotic beat of the davul drum and exotic sounds of the zurne, an instrument resembling a Scottish pipe, accompanied a belly dancer and a host of revellers on the Anatolian restaurant/Fountain Kebab float – winners of the best trade float. The children of the Godinton Park Playgroup were in a patriotic mood and won the best youth float prize.

Among the carnival queens Margate took first place after impressing judges Mayor Michael Claughton and his wife Daphne along with Kentish Express deputy news editor Leo Whitlock. Deal's entry came second with Sturry in third. All of the trophies were donated by the Kentish Express and were presented by Selwyn Gauden from the Association of Kent Carnival Organisations.

But organiser Brenda Dickinson said she was disappointed with the number of local people getting involved in the procession and lining the streets to give their support. She said: "We are expecting to be down on the amount of money we raised. It cost £525 just for the insurance to cover the procession and I'm not sure we'll have enough to even cover that."