WHO are these superheroes in blue and red who suddenly appear at carnivals and fetes?

They are your friendly neighbourhood Spidermen who, holy smoke! sometimes turn out as the Batmen band.

But who are the men behind the masks?

The Bournemouth Carnival Band that bring smiles to faces wherever they appear, is this year celebrating its silver jubilee. Back in 1982, it was founded by three men including Bill Mahookin who is one of the current bandmasters - often seen out front as the Green Goblin or the Penguin.

There were a dozen members, many seconded from the Pokesdown and Southbourne Ex-Servicemen's Club who intrepidly spang into action at carnivals at Upton and Trickett's Cross.

The following year the comedy band marched into the Lymington and Bournemouth parades, and from then on there was no turning back.

The self-proclaimed funmakers has appeared at carnivals, fetes and shows throughout England and northern France, including seven performances at the prestigious Jersey Battle of the Flowers.

They were the first British band to appear at the 110-year-old Lucerne Winter carnival, the Fasnacht - and returned six years later in 1992. From Lucerne the men in masks brought back the Guggenmusik style used in some tunes today including You Are My Sunshine and Yes Sir, That's My Baby.

Three times they have appeared at Valenciennes in France, at Les Folies de Bin Bin. "These overseas trips are well remembered," recalls Alan Hooker, Bournemouth Carnival band's secretary.

"Brass instruments stuck to lips at minus 20 degrees, thawed out by coffee schnaps, returning to the underground nuclear fall-out shelter for the night, then start again at 5am!

"By contrast, the band's been accommodated in five-star hotels only to be relegated to tents and jam-packed in Scout halls on other occasions.

"Then there's the delight of confetti by the bucketful directed into faces just as breaths are being taken in and playing to a thousand ears of corn in a field.

"We've been accommodated in a swimming pool changing room with beds so close together even the silverfish needed to slim to get between them, and we've had all the mod-cons in a school complete with minute and unwelcome guests."

Two notable favourite locations are the Swanage Carnival and the Old Gaffers on the Isle of Wight, he said.

They've appeared with many a TV star including the likes of Lulu, Philip Schofield, Keith Chedwin and Tom O'Connor and seven years ago even put on their own stage show, Musical Mayhem, at the Regent Theatre, Christchurch.

Apart from entertaining the public, the Bournemouth Carnival Band has supported many a charity event by performing, free of charge, at events like the London Taxi Drivers Party of Underprivileged Children, as well as fundraising galas for other good causes such as the Meningitis Trust, PHAB and the gateway clubs.

And, in the past few years alone, the fundraising band has given nearly £10,000 in direct donations of gifts or money - including drums and a bell-lyre, not to mention performing free at more than 100 charitable events, giving away the equivalent of £33,000.

On TV the Bournemouth Carnival Band has appeared as Snowmen, Santas, Mutant Hero Ninja Turtles, Mr Punch and Funderbirds, but most often they appear as Batmen with the occasional Spiderman, or vice versa when a member opf the band brings the wrong costume.

"This all adds to the fun of the comedy routines and audience participation with numbers such as Ring-Ring of Roses, Oom Pah Pah, Hands Knees and Boomps-a-Daisey," reports Alan.

Or their other favourites such as Singing in the Rain, Yellow Submarine and Agadoo.

"The band delights in mesmering numerous marshals and policemen by taking a wrong turn, accidentally on purpose," he adds.

Youngsters get their chance to march with the band to tunes like The Runaway Train complete with actions and sound effects and prizes.

"The band recives many compliments but one of the best recently was I had tears in my eyes laughing at your tribute to the Dambusters' at Swanage Carnival," he said.

The Spidermen act out the scene of the Lancaster bombers attacking the dams. And the bouncing bomb? A spacehopper tied to ropes and bounced along.

This year the Bournemouth Carnival band has been given a helping hand with a three-year sponsorship for £3,000 from S&D Leisure, owners of the Bournemouth Eye balloon and other attractions.

This year's carnival season is over but the band won't forget marching at Milton Abbey School Fun Day. Dressed as Spidermen, they performed a selection of numbers and an impromptu set of ballet exercises before rounding up children to join in the marching.

And among those roped into performing was one Martin Clunes who joined all the moves of Yellow Submarine.

"And, says Alan," very good he was too!"

n If you fancy yourself as a superhero and would like to give the band a go, log on to bcband.co.uk. Or give Alan, Dean or Bill a call on 01202 594378; 590625 or 420345. But you have to be 16 or over.