Gallery: Soggy Norbury Canal Festival hailed a success

For the first time Norbury Canal Festival was run on both sides of the canal, with a host of new activities.

Organisers described the event as "soggy" but said those that did attend had a "fantastic" time.

The event took place on a section of the Shropshire Union Canal between Newport and Stafford.

Hundreds of people attended the annual event for the duration of the festival, which is organised by Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, in conjunction with Norbury Junction Inn and Norbury villagers.

Bernie Jones, chairman of the trust, said: "It has been rather soggy. But the blue skies did come out and lots of people have come.

"Numbers are definitely down because of the weather but the stoic British attitude came through and there were a lot of people here in wellies and sou'westers.

"I would say we've had an average number of people, but attendance has been well down on previous years."

Funds raised from the event will go to the trust's £1.5 million appeal to convert historic warehouses at Wappenshall Junction, near Telford, into a visitor centre and community hub.

The trust needs to match-fund £500,000 in order to secure the money, and say they still need about £340,000 before December or the scheme will go back to square one.

New at the event this year was an Austin 7 Car Club Rally, where guests could see inside vintage vehicles

Boat traders, including the popular Cheese Boat, sold wares on the water and were joined by a gathering of narrow boats.

Mr Jones said the weather failed to dampen sales for the stalls.

He also said huge crowds were attracted to the annual concerts on the Saturday and Sunday

For more information about the work of the trust, visit: www.sncanal.org.uk or www.norburyjunction.com