Dancers moving to the beat of Brazilian samba music brought the carnival feel to Hove Park.

Performers from Beleza Brighton, the samba dance school, got visitors to Hove Carnival in the party mood yesterday as they took to the arena with their show, dressed in traditional costume.

Other performances which kept the crowds entertained included Streetfunk, Brighton’s largest hip hop dance school, the dog and duck show where dogs are trained to herd ducks to educate the audience in canine behaviour, and galloping acrobatics with gymnasts vaulting off horses as they trotted around the ring.

David Currell, Angela Lowbridge, Elizabeth Squires, all of Eastbourne, and Kerry Byott, of Hastings, came dressed for the occasion in punk-themed purple and black attire.

They were members of the Eastbourne-based Stix Drummers – led by Chris and Sharon Grace. The group is a mix of experienced drummers and beginners.

Mr Currell said: “We performed four or five tunes, some of which are recognisable mash-ups – like a mix of Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Humpty Dumpty – and others which were made up. It was good fun.”

Now in its 42nd year, the free carnival is organised by the Martlets Hospice to raise thousands of pounds needed to help provide care for terminally ill patients and to support for their families.

Based in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, the charity is not part of the NHS and so relies on donations and events like the carnival for funding. It has to raise around £4 million a year to pay for its services.

Antonia Shepherd, the charity’s events manager, said it was hoped yesterday’s event had raised £10,000.

Families poured into the park to make the most of attractions like a fun fair and traditional fete games as well as trade stalls, games, charity stands and refreshments.

Patricia Preston visited from Sompting with her children Asla, four, ten-week-old Elsa, plus her parents Elaine and Derek Gilday, of Southwick.

She said: “We come every year; we really enjoy it. Alsa loved the tea cup ride and the fairground.”

Mrs Gilday, 56, was pleased to know they were helping to raise money for such an important cause. Her mother Ray died from cancer in March aged 86 and the Martlets cared for her in the last 30 hours of her life.

She said: “She was only diagnosed in January and they only cared for her in the last hours of her life for about a day but they were magnificent. It gave me peace of mind knowing they were looking after her.”

Mr Gilday, 65, said: “We were looking forward to the arena shows like the dog and ducks. It’s just a nice family day out.”

Anna Morrissey, who also works in the charity’s events team, said 36 volunteers helped make the event possible.

She added: “Last year’s poor weather meant the event was completely flooded out and it was not representative of the success of the carnival. This year the weather was great and thousands of people attended. Without our volunteers none of this would be possible.”

Liz Kempshall, 74, of The Drive, Hove, was running the tombola stand with her grandaughter and has been volunteering for the Martlets for 16 years.

She decided to help after her father-in-law was looked after at the Coopercliff Hospice in Withdean and her father died in a hospice in London.

She said: “At first I was a driver, collecting food for them from shops like Marks and Spencer and then I started helping fundraising and I still help out in the fundraising office once a week.

“I think the carnival is a great way of raising the hospice’s profile as well as money. The weather was great and as a result we were so busy.”

The programme of events included the release of hundreds of balloons dedicated in memory of loved ones at 6pm to mark the close of the carnival but this did not take place. 

The hospice called off the release because of concerns about damage to the environment. Opponents said balloons could kill wildlife, cause dangerous power cuts, create litter and also waste helium, which is a finite resource.

In a statement last week the hospice said: “While we have held a small in memory balloon release for the past two years, which was well received by the visitors at the Hove Carnival, we have decided not to repeat this at this year's carnival.

"We have no wish to upset any members of the local community who have expressed concern about the impact on the environment that such balloon releases may cause.”

The hospice did not hold an alternative remembrance activity but is planning something different for next year's event.