NOT even the good old fashioned British stiff upper lip was enough to distract from the abysmal weather that fell on the Royal Wootton Bassett carnival on Saturday.

Months of preparations came down to one afternoon and as the participants in the showpiece carnival procession amassed ready to head off, the heavens opened.

The town’s High Street, normally thronging with crowds waiting to catch a glimpse of the passing floats, emptied quickly as people rushed into doorways seeking shelter from the deluge.

But we Brits are nothing if not resilient — and a little mad — as no sooner had the worst of the weather passed than the pavements were filling again.

Even the ice cream vans started selling again.

Rory and Tracey Simons, who only moved to Royal Wootton Bassett at the start of the year, were among those treating themselves to a 99 Flake.

“You’ve got to laugh really haven’t you,” said Rory.

“Ice creams, summer carnivals, and it’s tipping it down.

“Never mind, we’re all having fun aren’t we.”

Maureen Partland, visiting from the Midlands, was decked out in full wet weather gear complete with a sizeable umbrella.

“I came prepared,” she joked. “My grandson’s in the parade so I’m not going to miss it.

“I think it’s lovely that they do this every year. It makes everyone feel like a community.”

As the procession finally made its way along the High Street towards the carnival site, it was clear that no amount of rain was going to dampen the spirits of those involved.

Lead by the town’s retained firefighters, the long line of entertainers included the 1st Wootton Bassett Beavers dressed in their ancient Egyptian finery and the new male majorettes — average age around 60 — dressed in purple skirts and shaking their pom-poms to the delight of the crowds.

The Rotary Club laid on a nursery book themed float and the team from the tennis club could be seen playing a rather precarious game of tennis on the back of a truck as the rain lashed down.

Men and women from Swindon Samba got the public dancing in the puddles as they brought a taste of Rio to proceedings.

They were joined by fellow musical maestros Bang to Rites, whose drum playing towards the rear of the parade kept everyone entertained.

The carnival was a success once again, all be it a very wet one, organisers now look forward to doing it all again in 12 months’ time.