POLPERRO’S popular Water Carnival is set to return with a splash tomorrow (July 8) after an absence of 16 years.

The fun event will see teams of villagers racing home built rafts on a course out of the harbour and back.

A children’s Treasure Hunt, Miller and Sweep and a three-legged race will be part of the fun and games taking place all day from 10am.

The Pirates of Piran will be around the village during the event and there will be live entertainment from the Polperro Fishermen’s Choir.

After several decades of high jinks, the Polperro Water Carnival was forced to finish in the year 2000. The cost of insuring the event, as well as more stringent heath and safety requirements were to blame, says committee member Sian Puckey.

But with the support of Looe RNLI, who have agreed to be involved and cover the insurance costs, the carnival can make a come back.

‘People in Polperro always used to look forward to the water carnival,’ said Sian.

‘The committee would like to give a huge thank you to the RNLI for making the event possible again. There will be donation buckets around the village on the day, so we hope people will give what they can to this charity who work to keep us safe on the water.’

Tomorrow’s programme is as follows:

10am- children’s treasure hunt on the beach 

12pm Big Green Event - bouncy castle, face painting and stalls

2.30pm- The return of Polperro’s famous Miller and Sweep

3pm - The raft race 

5pm- Three legged race and performance of Polperro Fishermen’s Choir on the harbour

8pm- Awards evening and live music from Jaded Angel at the Royal British Legion