Revellers made the most of glorious weather this afternoon as the 54th annual Ricky Week got underway.
At 2pm hundreds of spectators lined the route of the traditional Carnival Parade as it snaked its way via the High Street to the idyllic lawns of the Bury Grounds.
There, many more residents and guests gathered to enjoy the Batchworth Sea Scouts' Grand Carnival Fete - an event that could scarcely have looked more different from last year.
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The torrential downpours that plagued the running of the 53rd event were little more than distant memories as, on one of the warmest days of the year so far, temperatures peaked at more than 25 degrees.
Tony Berry, chairman of the organising Rickmansworth Society, said the carnival parade had proved as popular as ever.
He said: "We had 26 entries this year and all were very impressive. It was fantastic to see so many people turn out to watch."
At the Bury Grounds crowds old and young enjoyed a traditional mixture of live music, fairground attractions, and sporting competition - including the district cub scouts' tug-of-war.
Here, after a tense, noisy and hard-fought competition, a team from the 6th Rickmansworth pack defeated representatives from the Watford Lions in the final.
South West Hertfordshire MP David Gauke, who was attending the event with his family for the fifth year in a row, said it was something the whole town could be proud of.
He said: "Every year this is a great occasion that brings the whole town together. It is a fantastic community event that reminds us we are not just a commuter town."
For full details, photographs, and a preview of the Rickmansworth Canal Festival, please see Friday's Watford Observer.
Tomorrow's programme of events is listed below.
Sunday
9.30am Art exhibition in St Mary's Church
10am Ricky Week service in St Mary's Church
10am-5pm Classic cars in the Aquadrome
11am-4pm Dinghy racing on Troy Lake, beyond West Hyde
11am-4pm Maple Lodge Nature Reserve open day to celebrate 25th anniversary. Admission free
Midday-3pm Summer Fair at St Joan of Arc
Midday-4pm Barbecue in grounds of Conservative club, Bury Lane
1pm-3pm Morris dancing in Ruislip Woods
2pm Wildlife Wander from the Batchworth Lock centre, along the Ebury Way and around the Withey Beds
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