This year the Annual Ross Town Carnival is celebrating its Ruby Anniversary. To coincide with this the committee has launched a brand new website and a colouring competition.

The website has been designed by Jess Teague at GMP Software and chairman Andrew Buffrey said: “She’s done an amazing job. The hosting is by Wyenet and the kind sponsors are ABT and REHAU; without their donations this would not have been possible.”

The new website has been designed to work across all digital platforms and is very user friendly. There are several new features such as a Carnival Countdown and a Social Media hashtag #rosscarn17 which links the Facebook and Twitter accounts to the website with any posts that use it.

Other tabs cover visitor information, including parking and a procession map. Parking will be free in all the town’s Herefordshire Council run carparks on Carnival Day. This has been made possible thanks to sponsorship by three local businesses; Parry’s, Weston’s Cider and Peter Hickman.

There are also photo and video galleries on the website, plus a History timeline, the all important FAQs and lots more to explore. There is even an ‘add to our history’ page which enables people to contribute to the archives.

Children aged 11 and under can take part in the colouring competition and the winner will receive an iPad mini 2, courtesy of REHAU. Runners up prizes are a canvas print worth £50 donated by Kodak Express and a sweet dispenser, courtesy of Tudor Sweets. The winning entry will also be used for the Carnival programme.

The colouring sheet can be downloaded and printed for children to express themselves by creating a Carnival picture. The closing date is Friday, April 21st at 3pm and those forms can be dropped off at the Ross Gazette office or the Market House.

The website address is www.rosscarnival.org.uk