A riot of feathers, fruit and flowers have been used to come up with dramatic Brazilian-style costumes for next weekend's Cowley Road Carnival.

Organisers of the Sunday, July 6, carnival - Oxfordshire's biggest public event - have been working with fashion students at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College to create costumes, thanks to Heritage Lottery Fund cash.

The costumes will be worn by members of carnival band Sol Samba, who will be taking part in the colourful, masquerade-themed procession which leaves from The Plain at noon.

Carnival education worker Henrietta Gill said: "We wanted to teach students about how these costumes would have been made for carnival in Brazil."

Mariana Pinho, who makes costumes and performs in carnivals all over Brazil, spent six sessions working with the 17- and 18-year-olds at the college's Oxpens Road campus.

The costumes revolve around the theme of the sun, and are in warm colours.

The students produced a total of 43 different outfits for the drummers and dancers taking part in the parade Outfits consist of headdresses, skirts, shirts and arm bands - some with bright yellow fruit and flower adorned head-dresses.

Crystal Padmore, 18, of Witney, said: "It was a lot of work to do in a short time but it has been exciting. I would like to use what we have learned as inspirations in my own designs."

And Alice Roberts, 17, of Botley, said: "I have learned lots of skills you would not normally learn on a textiles course.

"I think they look really good."

BTech fashion course leader Maria Skoyles said she was pleased with her students' efforts.

She said: "It was a bit of a rushed project at the end of term and quite chaotic, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"The costumes look really bright and colourful and I think they will look really good in the carnival."