BOLTON’S One Big Weekend has been hailed a success — despite torrential rain putting a dampener on the final day.

Organisers estimated around 20,000 people turned out to the event at Leverhulme Park.

It featured bungee jumps, quad-bike races, tank rides, a modern and vintage car show, a motorbike stunt display team, morris dancers, martial arts and a dog show.

There were also firework displays on Friday and Saturday night where the first evening proved so popular people had to be turned away.

Organiser Henry Hill, of Northwest Funfairs, said: “It has been a great event, and lots of people have been over the weekend.

“We had about 8,000 people on Friday and 10,000 on Saturday, but there were less people on Sunday due to the weather. I think there was about 20,000 over the weekend which is very good.

“But we can’t let rain get in the way, the show must go on.

“We are hoping to do it again next year in August and that it will be bigger and better.”

Families braved the weather yesterday in their wellies and raincoats.

Natalie Frodsham, aged 35, from Breightmet, said: “I came on Saturday and it was great, lots of people and the weather was ok.

The truck show was good and the kids had fun on the rides.

“We decided to come back again because we were not doing anything else and it is only a bit of rain which we are used to!”

Kathryn Corkin, aged 38, from Spa Road, Bolton, visited yesterday with her husband Andrew and five children.

She said: “It is a bit soggy but you never know what the weather is going to be like when these events are organised.

“I am sure it would be a lot busier if it wasn’t raining, but we decided to come down anyway, and it has been good fun.”