SHIRE horses will be brought in specially from Essex for this year's Hayes Carnival.

The four horses, each standing more than two metres tall and weighing more than a ton, will be the stars of this year's carnival parade around the streets of Hayes.

Hillingdon Council has hired the horses for the first time this year in a bid to lower the carbon footprint of the traditional event.

Alan Dalton, head of arts, culture, and libraries at Hillingdon Council said: "The parade is looking much bigger than last year, and we are looking to have some of the float displays on the carts pulled by shire horses.

"We wanted to do something special and different for the parade this time round.

"We are also trying to address the green agenda."

The council is hoping young people can ride the horses around the carnival ground, in Barra Hall Park, Freemans Lane, as an additional attraction at the free event, which is taking place on Saturday, July 12.

The organisation of this year's carnival has been dogged by criticism after it appeared not to be going ahead at all.

Some local people have said the lower numbers involved in the carnival, which dates back more than 80 years, can be blamed on poor organisation from the council.

Labour politicians launched a campaign to save the carnival, fearing it would be sidelined and eventually scrapped.

But Mr Dalton said organisation has passed this year from the parks department to the council officers in charge of arts in the borough, and they are looking at ways to involve local Hayes residents further in the future.

He told the Hillingdon Times: "There has been a long tradition of a parade and a carnival in Hayes, and we don't want to take that away.

"Plus, we are going back to Hayes in October and involving the community again in BigFest."

As well as the shire horses, the parade is set to have 12 floats and be led by the Jambalaya New Orleans Jazz Band, starting at 12.20pm in Pump Lane.

Thirty stalls will be set up on the park, run by community groups and voluntary organisations, and highlights include a team of stunt drivers in Minis, an Indiana Jones-style stuntman and children's theatre company.

Mr Dalton said: "This year is going to be bigger than before, and we want to see how it goes and take that forward for future carnivals."