Light, colour and music flooded the streets of Benidorm last night for the annual Carnival parade which took place in the old town. In total around 1,000 took part made up of 63 groups and 10 individual entries – the winning group was “Venice in Benidorm” who were awarded a €1,000 cash prize.

The avenida Ruzafa was lined with spectators, taking in the atmosphere and cheering as the parade passed. Many were also dancing to the beat of the music blasting from the giant speakers erected along the route.

The parade finished in the town hall square and afterwards all the participants partied until the early hours in the specially erected giant marque, with live DJ.

On Tuesday 13th, the "Burial of the Sardine" will take place. The procession, starting at 21:30 will pass through the Old Town down to the Poniente Beach where the “sardine” is ceremoniously buried on the beach to signal the start of Lent and will be followed by a fire work display.