SOAP star mania hit Adlington at the weekend during the annual carnival.

Thousands of people attended the three-day event which included appearances from an Emmerdale heart-throb and a Coronation Street joker.

The weather might have been unpredictable, but the fun was guaranteed with people thronging the main streets of the village to watch the annual carnival procession on Saturday which included 60 floats.

All sorts of weird and wonderful sights could be spotted in the procession including Bill and Ben, the Lion King, Tweenies and plenty of bands such as the Bourbon Street Roof Raisers, Chorley Silver Band and Agasaca Beat samba group.

Autograph

Loveable Coronation Street rogue Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, might have arrived in Adlington two-and-a-half hours later than expected, but he still received a huge welcome from villagers who queued in droves to get an autograph.

Alan, aged 19, who describes himself as a "Salford lad" through and through after being brought up in Walkden, has loved his three years on the "Street" and is looking forward to plenty more interesting storylines.

He admits that as a 16-year-old he was overwhelmed to join such a star-studded cast and constantly wanted to call everyone by their character names.

"I joined Coronation Street straight from school and even though I'd done lots of telly work, nothing could have prepared me for this.

"I kept wanting to say 'Jack' and 'Vera' all the time," he said.

Alan could not reveal the truth behind the rumours that Tyrone finds a new love interest behind Monica's back, but added: "You know Tyrone -- he never behaves himself."

Plenty of young girls arrived at the carnival yesterday for more soap star fun when heart-throb Ben Freeman, who plays love rat Scott in Emmerdale, made an appearance and signed autographs and posed for photographs.

Ben is becoming a regular visitor to the area as his real life girlfriend is Lostock actress Amy Nuttall, who plays his on-screen partner, Chloe Atkinson.

The 21-year-old, who was brought up in Windsor, Berkshire, but now lives in Leeds, said: "I'm getting to know Horwich quite well since I've been seeing Amy.

"And I've had a few nights out in Bolton which have been good."

He is often recognised and admits he received a few strange looks out on the town in Bolton, but claims there are no mobs of screaming girls pursuing him.

"I've been on Emmerdale for three years, so I'm used to people staring, but I just take it in my stride and it's not a problem -- I've never been mobbed!"

Ben, who was sporting a tan after holidaying in Majorca and Corfu with Amy, admits he never wanted to be an actor when he was young.

He said: "I was quite lazy and lacked direction, but my parents pointed me in the right direction and now all I know is that I want to be an actor, but I don't know in what kind of thing after Emmerdale.

"I've signed my contract for the next year, but I only know my storylines for the next six weeks.

"Scott won't be behaving himself, that's for sure, but who wants to plays a character who behaves himself?"

Organiser Colin Prescott was delighted that so many people supported the carnival this year, but was disappointed even more floats could not have joined the procession because of remaining foot and mouth restrictions.

Brilliant

He said: "Lots of people keep the floats on farms and were not allowed to take them off the land which is a real shame and something we had not planned for.

"But the whole thing has been brilliant and everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves."

Colin was especially pleased as Saturday's cabaret evening proved to be a sellout as did the Patron Scheme which allows local businesses to buy passes for an exclusive VIP bar.

Other attractions included a dog show, horse rides, fun fair, charity stalls, children's and parents races, five-a-side football, the crowning of the carnival royalty, classic car display, mega minis stunt show, baby show and craft fair.