IT will be business as usual at this year's Radcliffe Carnival after initial fears that the introduction of safety measures might spoil the fun.

But this year's bumper 40th anniversary event is set to be the biggest and best ever.

Last year, regulations threatened to curb the parade around the town, as people would be stopped from riding on top of cars and on floats.

But an eleventh-hour phone call from Bury Council gave the go- ahead for the fun and the restrictions were lifted.

And this year, the carnival committee is once again planning the full parade on the weekend of June 4.

Carnival organiser, Mr Ray Vevers, said: "There's been no problem this year, so we are going ahead with the plans as usual."

The threat to enforce the regulations followed a legal bid to sue the police by a man who fell under the wheels of a float in Cheltenham. However, the case was later dropped.

Entry forms for this year's carnival procession are available from Radcliffe Pool in Blackburn Street, Radcliffe Library in Stand Lane or from Mr Vevers on 797 4475.

The carnival will centre on Red Bank fields.