COMMUNITY-minded lorry drivers are making sure Wisbech Rose Fair s traditional parade of floats will go ahead. The town will not be following in the footsteps of March Carnival, which scrapped its floats and was left with a walking parade because drivers

COMMUNITY-minded lorry drivers are making sure Wisbech Rose Fair's traditional parade of floats will go ahead.

The town will not be following in the footsteps of March Carnival, which scrapped its floats and was left with a walking parade because drivers feared they would be in breach of EU legislation.

Thirty drivers will get behind the wheel for the spectacular 'heroes' parade in Wisbech, making sure they are within the law. They are prepared to donate some of their driving time to the town's biggest annual event on July 7.

Organisers of March Festival cited EU regulations which prevented them having a parade of floats. This legislation says lorry drivers' voluntary work will now be added to their weekly tacographs and count towards the number of hours a driver can work.

Parade chairman Chris Clark said that after extensive consultation, the committee left it to the drivers to organise their time so they could legally take part. "The drivers have said that, since this is the biggest annual event in the town, and they want it to be the usual spectacular, they have decided to make the effort to make themselves available so that the parade can go ahead as usual," said Mr Clark.

The theme for this year's parade is 'heroes' and 30 floats from schools, scouts, community organisations and businesses will take part.

The first parade of floats around the town is at 11am and again at 2pm.

The Rose Fair runs from Wednesday to July 8, with a preview evening on July 3 when people will have the first opportunity to view the floral displays in St Peter's Church, enjoy wine and strawberries and live music with Manea Silver Band.

On July 4, 5 and 6 there will be lunchtime entertainment in Museum Square by local schools and the Jazzmin Dixieland Band.

n The Horse Fair shopping centre is giving away more than £100 worth of vouchers to shoppers who take part in the centre's window competition. Entrants have to note specific items in shop windows not normally sold there. Entry forms are available from most Horse Fair shops from Monday.

Complete forms should be posted through the centre manager's door, next to the Horse Fair information point on the bus station. Closing date is July 8.