Police investigate altercation after Bridgwater carnival results

Police are investigating “altercations” that led to someone being injured after a town’s carnival results were announced.

There were violent scenes following Bridgwater Carnival in Somerset after the results were “delayed” a day due to “laptop issues”.

The world-famous carnival is attended by more than 150,000 people every year and is the oldest in the UK and one of the largest illuminated processions in Europe.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were called to Angel Place in Bridgwater, on Sunday evening. They confirmed one person received medical treatment but was not sent to hospital.

Carnival clubs usually find out the provisional winner of the procession on Saturday evening but in a Facebook Live broadcast, boos could be heard after the officials delayed the result.

On a since deleted additional Facebook Live broadcast on the Sunday, judges were greeted with booing, and glasses being thrown at volunteers in the town.

One of the clubs, Newmarket Carnival Club, has apologised for the “altercations” and subsequently “withdrew” from Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Carnival earlier this week.

In a statement, the club said: “The actions of one individual have unfortunately created a bad image for the club.

“We do not condone these actions as that is not what Newmarket CC has built its reputation on. This has been dealt with internally by the club.”

Another club and the eventual winner, Gremlins, said it was “extremely saddened” with the events on Sunday evening.

In a statement, a Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened by the events of Sunday evening, and together with the carnival clubs, we are undertaking a thorough investigation into what happened.”

Dave Stokes, from Bridgwater Carnival committee told BBC Radio Somerset earlier this week: “We’re disappointed we didn’t get this right this year due to laptop and technical issues on the night.

“Like every carnival, the results on a Saturday night are always provisional and then confirmed over the next 48 hours.

“We are all volunteers and all we can say is we’re sorry. It wasn’t a good place for us to be in and we must learn from this for 2025.”

The Bridgwater event marks the start of the Guy Fawkes carnival circuit which sees the clubs travel to Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Glastonbury in November.

Avon and Somerset Police said that enquiries are ongoing and asked any witnesses to contact them.