AN Italian food market and a flypast by a wartime Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight helped make Whittlesey Summer Festival a great success. The festival, which is the third of this year s Fenland Four Season s events staged by Fenland D

AN Italian food market and a flypast by a wartime Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight helped make Whittlesey Summer Festival a great success.

The festival, which is the third of this year's Fenland Four Season's events staged by Fenland District Council in partnership with town councils and community groups, attracted more than 5,000 people.

Activities were spread throughout the town centre and included performing groups of bands and dancers, free fairground rides, displays of classic cars and vintage cycles and two climbing walls for both adults and youngsters. Another success was an art exhibition of more than 100 entries from schools.

Fenland council's markets and events manager Mike Chapman said: "It was absolutely fantastic, it was brilliant in every respect and the poor weather didn't deter the people of Whittlesey supporting the event."

Mr Chapman said Sunday's event had seen a 30 per cent increase in the attractions and extra space. He added: "I really think Whittlesey was looking for a festival to call its own and with financial help from both the district and town councils it proved to be a great day out for families on a budget."

Mr Chapman said organisers were keen to get feedback from the public - positive or negative - and he urged people to fill in consultation forms available in the library and town hall.

He said: "We are looking for continuous improvement and we already have ideas in the pipeline for next year and are looking at new options."

Whittlesey Town Councillor Pauline Edge also felt the day had been a huge success. She said: "We were delighted at how it went and I would like to say a big thank you to all those organisations involved and the time and effort put into making it a great day and also to those who came along and supported us."

CONTACT: If you would like to help or have some input to next year's festival contact Councillor Pauline Edge Tel 01733 208414.