KENDAL'S Torchlight Procession 2001 is just around the corner and promises to be bigger than ever, thanks to the record-breaking number of entries pouring in.

Now in its 32nd year, the two-mile street party is sure to offer all the usual razzmatazz, family fun and eye-catching sights.

But to top it off, increasingly more groups, clubs, bands and businesses are asking for a place in the procession, with entry numbers now topping the 140 mark.

Ron Clancy, Torchlight committee chairman, said: "This year it is going to be the largest Torchlight ever.

We now have at least 145 entries in, and it is going to be good."

This year's theme The Community Spirit of Cumbria may have prompted more entries with community members pulling together to bring more people to the town.

"People obviously just feel they want to dig in and help the area.

That's the spirit of people here - they just get on and do things, and do it well," said Mr Clancy.

The annual parade will be a star-studded affair, with celebrity guests flying in from the BAFTA Award-winning Emmerdale.

Emma Atkins and Jeff Hordley, who play Charity and Cain Dingle, will be joined by Amy Nuttall, aka Chloe Atkinson, and Ben Freeman, also known as Scott Windsor.

Another celebrity presence will be Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the original star of the Disney film, which will find its way to Kendal for the grand parade.

For an extra treat, Chitty can also be seen outside The Westmorland Shopping Centre from 10am, and K Village Outlet Centre from 2pm.

To kick-start the parade, roads will close from 6.45pm, with street entertainers flocking to regale spectators.

At 7.45pm a balloon race, in aid of Derian house Children's Hospice, will start on Lound Road, marking the beginning of the procession.

Fund-raisers for Derian House - Torchlight 2001's charity partner - will be selling balloon race tickets throughout the day, along with procession programmes.

Not only will the procession feature historic cars and celebrity guests, there will also be working horse teams, Bernese Dog Carters, steam engines, bygone bikes and spectacular floats.

'Mummy, they've shrunk the Procession', a new theme for Torchlight 2000 made up of scaled-down vehicles, has grown in size and now boasts three new small steam engines.

A host of bands and choirs will give the procession momentum with a medley of music, including The Poco Loco Samba Band, from Blackpool and The Imperial Corps of Drums, from Liverpool.

Kendal Millennium Youth Choir will be touring the town on a musical train; Amabile Girls Choir is taking to the parade for the first time along with Wardle High School Band, from Rochdale.

The King's Division Waterloo Military Band will also be a major feature in the event.

Other appearances in this year's procession include The Women's Institute, with the theme 'Women's Strength in the Community'; Hallgarth Senior Citizens, who are highlighting 'The Spirit of Hallgarth'; and Kendal Tax Office, parading to the theme 'Go, Go On, Go On'.

"As chairman of the Torchlight I can guarantee every year that everybody who comes to the event will see something they have never seen before," said Mr Clancy.