COLOURFUL floats featuring astronauts walking on the moon, orang-utans swinging from trees and bands performing live music are all part of Kendal's Virtual Torchlight Carnival.

Children from local schools were invited to design floats, which would form a virtual procession on the Internet. Each of the designs was placed on to the side of a virtual wagon, which moves across the screen as if it was part of the traditional procession.

Torchlight chairman Ron Clancy said it provided several benefits for the children involved: "We targeted schools and that is important because they are the torchlight of the future.

"There are a lot of educational and social benefits to gain from it and the children have been so enthusiastic. They thought it was great."

Each entry was made from a basic wagon template, some were done by hand and some digitally.

Mr Clancy said: "They started it towards the end of the summer term and picked it up again after the holidays and after torchlight, in the hope that they would see the torchlight and get more ideas, and it worked."

It is all part of an arts and business project to get businesses involved in doing things connected with the arts. The link came through their partners Creative Branch who design the websites for both Kendal Torchlight and the sponsors Castle Green Hotel.

Anyone wishing to see the virtual torchlight procession can do so by logging on to www.kendaltorchlightcarnival.co.uk where people can vote for their favourite float. The best individual entry and the school whose entries gain the most votes will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Castle Green Hotel on October 21.