ZacFest shines bright despite torrential rain as hundreds turn out to support Broseley youngster - with pictures

But that didn't stop hundreds turning out to show their support for little Zac Oliver.

The family of four-year-old Zac say they were touched by the turn-out to Zacfest, which has helped the Broseley family get ever closer to their target.

Zac has a rare form of cancer called near haploid, and needs to raise £500,000 to get to the Philadelphia Children's Hospital for a clinical trial treatment called CAR-T.

ZacFest was arranged in just three weeks, going ahead yesterday despite torrential rain and the cancellation of the Baby Shark singing challenge.

The world record attempt, to get more than 440 people singing the viral Baby Shark song in relay, will be brought back and expanded at an event in the next few weeks.

Mother Hannah Oliver-Willetts said the family was grateful for those who braved the swampy Telford town park to support their appeal.

She said: "In the morning it was a bit of a washout but it cleared up and got better after lunch.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along despite the rain.

"Even though they would probably rather be inside in front of the TV with their feet up on a day like this, they came down and got stuck in for Zac."

The bands to perform on the day included Escala of Britain's Got Talent, Skaburst and Black Bear Kiss.

A secondary stage also saw young singers from the area given a chance to shine.

Rob Wallace is related to Zac through in-laws, and he was the main organiser of the festival despite having no event organising experience.

He said: "I run a medical services company and I work at a lot of festivals through that.

"I have a lot of contacts through that who I have been able to work with for organising Zacfest.

"It usually takes people months to arrange a festival, we managed it in just under four weeks.

"It was still a stratospheric learning curve but we have had a lot of help from volunteers, sponsors and everyone involved."

Brave

Regarding the weather, he said the team was "deflated" but that "it's not a festival without the mud".

One of the event's celebrity guests was Telford & Wrekin's mayor Raj Mehta, who opened the festival with a speech after presenting Zac with a certificate for bravery.

The mayor said: "I wouldn't want to wish what Zac is going through on anyone. He's been very brave but it has been hard on him.

"Hopefully his family can raise the money they need and they can get him the treatment in America.

"We are looking forward to seeing him get to America, get the treatment and get back to Telford. We don't want this treatment to take away his childhood.

"We are behind him 100 per cent, the whole borough is."

Katie Plimmer, from Telford, came to Zacfest with her family to support Zac, and her cousin who performed on the day.

Katie, 30, said: "I have kids of a similar age to Zac and I like to think if I was in the position his family is in the community would get behind me.

"He is a local lad and we have been following his story. I hope they raise the money they need for his treatment."

Zac's grandmother Annette Oliver said that the family was taking the positives from the event and was grateful to Rob Wallace.

She said: "We call him our own Bob Geldof for what he has done, it is miraculous. We want to thank everyone who has helped because we can't thank them individually, there are too many.

"The Baby Shark attempt will be re-arranged for an event in the next few weeks. We were aiming to get 450 people - but why can't we go for 1,000?"