Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Rickmansworth this weekend as Ricky Week returns for the 61st time.

Ricky Week will kick off on Saturday as the town’s High Street becomes a sea of colour as the annual parade moves through the town.

Decorated floats and other entries taking part in the parade will assemble on the southern side of the High Street between the railway bridge and St Joan of Arc School.

At 1.30pm, the parade will go through the High Street, Station Road, Northway and Church Street, before finishing at the Bury Grounds.

Barbara Owen, secretary of the Rickmansworth Society which organises the event, said: "We are looking forward to it because we do get very well supported by the different societies and associations.

"They do support the week with what they put on with their meetings and events.

"Then, at the end of the week, it is the big canal festival and that does create a big atmosphere."

Mrs Owen attributed the event's success to it's community feel, saying "it brings so many people together in the town".

Miss Rickmansworth will be crowned by chairman of Three Rivers District Council, Chris Lloyd, at 2pm.

Meanwhile, at the Bury Grounds, the Batchworth Sea Scouts have organised a number of attractions, including a barbecue and a tug-of-war at the Grand Carnival Fete. This event will start at 1.30pm and is expected to finish at 5pm.

Throughout the rest of the week, there will be a number of activities and these will culminate with the annual Rickmansworth Canal Festival at Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

People will be able to get a unique view of Rickmansworth as St Mary’s Church, in Church Street, opens up its tower. It will cost £1 to go up the tower and see across the town.

14-foot dinghies will also be racing in Troy Lake between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, May 9 and in the programme put together by the Rickmansworth Society, this location is described as "a hidden gem in the bottom corner of Three Rivers".

Year six pupils from the Royal Masonic School will be giving tours of Three Rivers Museum, High Street on Wednesday, May 13 and organisers said they will be giving presentations about different artefacts.

Ricky Week will culminate with the 22 Rickmansworth Festival on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17.

Live music can be seen across three stages including, rock, jazz and folk performances.

Traditional narrow-boats will also be on display as part of the annual festival. Performances on the music stages in the Aquadrome and Batchworth Lock starts at 11am.

The Festival car park in Stockers Farm Road costs £3 for the day.