Supersized royalty will be making a return to Ellesmere Port at the end of this month.

The Giants will be making a comeback at the town’s annual carnival on Sunday, May 31, building on the success of last year’s event, which attracted thousands of spectators to the town and gave a big financial boost to local traders.

This year’s carnival is aiming to be a bigger, better and more spectacular extravaganza than before and will feature brand new giant Queen Elizabeth II lookalikes.

One of the new Queen Elizabeth II lookalike giants

The Giants Carnival procession through the town centre gets under way at 11am from Wellington Street Car Park and ends in the Civic Square, where there will be a programme of family entertainment staged by local organisations until 3pm.

The colourful pageant will also include bands and street entertainers.

Royal designs

The supersize creations have been designed and built by The Giant Manufacturing Company Ltd based at the nearby University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park.

The giants have been designed to lead festivities planned to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II overtaking Queen Victoria in September as the longest reigning monarch in British history.

The 12ft figures will parade through Ellesmere Port wearing individually designed costumes, which reflect the cultural diversity of Commonwealth countries and have been created by winner of Britain’s Top Designer Matthew O’Brien.

The Queen heads are cast from a sculpture created by Nick Elphick, a North Wales designer. Many of the heads have been hand-decorated by local artists.

North Wales sculptor Nick Elphick working on his Queen's head sculpture for the Giant Parade in Ellesmere Port

John Iles, chairman of The Giant Manufacturing Company Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing the giant Queen Elizabeth II figures at the Ellesmere Port Carnival and are immensely proud to launch our product at one of the town’s favourite family events.”

Robert Mee, chairman of the Ellesmere Port Development Board, added: “Its great news that giant figures designed and manufactured in Ellesmere Port will take part in this year’s parade.

“The event attracted many thousands of people last year and certainly helps to raise the profile of Ellesmere Port.”

Before last year, The Giants parade had previously taken place through the city centre streets of Chester.