Laura Forster (12) floated down the river on a raft to the music of Edelweiss.

Dressed in a blue gown, she said she felt very excited and nervous.

Her attendants were Nelly Davison and Natalie Hutchens, both aged five, who sprinkled the water with rose petals.

A practice took place on Sunday, also in the rain at the Old Mill in Littlebeck which is owned by Julia Weeks.

The retiring Rose Queen, Alison Marsay, handed over her crown to Laura, whose mum Liz (40) was also Rose Queen in 1983.

Last year's performance of the Lion King took place on a hot day but, unfortunately, this year's Sleeping Beauty was beset by a downpour so Laura floated down the river with an umbrella.

Fiona El-Tawab (30) told the Gazette: "My daughter Summer (5) is a dancing fairy in the performance and my son Tai was an attendant last year.

"I love the Rose Queen. I think it is so gorgeous. It's an amazing, lovely setting and I think its great that Julia has kept up the tradition since buying the Old Mill."

The Rose Queen was first put on the calendar at Littlebeck 54 years ago to raise money to build a village hall.

Organisers, the Littlebeck Village Hall committee, estimated a crowd of at least 250 people.

Dancers from the Alison Radcliffe school of dance in Redcar also took part in the performance.