MORE than 1,000 hardy fetegoers descended on Kirby le Soken despite a torrential downpour.

Kirby village fete is one of the biggest in the county and usually attracts more than 3,000 people to Glebe Field, off The Street.

Organiser David Payne said he hoped bank holiday Monday’s event broke even, but there were no profits to donate to charity this year.

“It was almost a washout,” he said.

“It was curtailed to some degree, but showing true British spirit we muddled through – we just sold a lot more cups of tea than we did ice creams.

“It was such a shame considering the manhours and months of planning that goes into it, but people still turned up and I think they sympathised with us – the rain was like a monsoon at times.

“We will just hope for better luck next year."