THE wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds of families at carnivals in Wroughton and Penhill this weekend.

Processions, stalls and funfair rides went ahead on Saturday despite the rain and crowds of people flocked to join in the fun.

In Wroughton, the carnival committee made emergency plans in the morning to move the stalls and musical entertainment into the church hall, Fox and Hounds, Wroughton working men’s club and The Brown Jack.

Carnival chairman Paul Russell said: “We managed to implement our contingency plan – we moved the stalls to the church hall and The Brown Jack and they have let us use their car park and skittle alley.

“Because of the state of the field at the moment, we felt it wasn’t safe for the large quantities of people.

“It has still been very well supported by the people of Wroughton. In the village there has been the same amount of people we would normally get. It has made us glad we didn’t cancel.”

Funfair rides still took place on Weir Field but the firework display, scheduled for the end of the carnival, was called off.

The procession saw 17 organisations taking part, with about 400 people, and it included Arabian nights, gangsters, Worzel Gummidge, pirates and the Olympics as themes.

About 3,000 people came to the carnival and there was no entry fee this year because of the numerous locations.

Paul thanked everyone who helped to make the event a success and said they are starting to plan next year’s carnival.

Abi Banyard, of Chiseldon, was at the event with her children, Joe, four, and Olivia, seven.

“We were on a float in the procession with the Hop Scotch pre-school, which is based in Chiseldon,” she said.

“The children are having a lovely time.”

Carrie-Anne Hampshire, of Penhill, who used to live in Wroughton, was at the event with her children Lexi, three, and Caden, 19 months.

“I come here every year. From what I have seen, they have managed to carry on despite the rain, which is great,” she said.

In Penhill, the carnival saw about 600 people enjoying live music, food, stalls, singing and performances from about 20 children from the Denise Rogers School of Dance.

The fancy dress procession, featuring 19 colourful groups, left St Peter’s Church at 11am and completed a loop of Penhill Drive.

Ingrid Bernathova, a member of the carnival’s planning group, said: “The procession was bigger than last year. This year we had more families coming to join the procession.”

Festivities took place at Swindon Academy, St Peter’s Church Hall and the John Moulton Hall.