Wemfest mini Games hailed a success

An inaugural community event in north Shropshire has been hailed a huge success.

Wemfest, Wem's very own version of the Olympic Games, could now be held every year, organisers said today.

The event was held at the town's Recreation Ground yesterday and featured live music, craft fair, local food and drink, a funfair and a mini Olympics sports event.

A group of about five residents organised the community event to coincide with the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The friends came up with the idea after discussing their disappointment at not being able to get tickets.

The event, which was held from noon to 11pm, raised money for the British Heart Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK.

Organisers were given a boost in June after members of the Wem and Shawbury Local Joint Committee approved £500 towards the £1,400 staging costs.

Timothy Higgins, 19, organiser and chairman of Wem Community Events, said: "It started out as a group of friends who came up with some ideas and things developed from there.

"The event went really well we had hundreds of people come and go. At its peak we must have had 300 people.

"There was a really heavy downpour at about 10.30am which we were really concerned about but it stopped at 11.30am and cleared away for noon before everything started, it was then sunny for the rest of the day.