A DAY of rain, thunder and freak winds on Sunday almost put an end to months of planning for Barnoldswick's new gala and country fair.

After considering cancelling the event at Victory Park, organisers Barnoldswick Chamber of Trade decided to press on regardless.

Luckily conditions improved as the day progressed and chief organiser Stephen Demaine thought the gala would just about break even.

Gala Queen Emily Mitchell, officially opened the event and almost all of the advertised attractions went ahead as planned, including the top-of-the-bill Stuntworld motorbike display.

It was touch and go whether it would happen, with the riders unable to perform their death-defying stunts on wet ground. But by 4pm they judged it dry enough to go ahead and spectators enjoyed a thrill-packed display.

Equally popular was the sheepdog and duck display by the Mellin family of Oakworth.

A group of Irish dancers, the Friends of Clann-na-ngael, had travelled all the way from Sunderland and were determined to put on a show whatever the weather. The dancers were presented with mugs and badges by the Mayor of Pendle, Coun Mohammed Iqbal.

The mayor was taken aback when another of the organisers, town councillor Jenny Purcell, asked to borrow his mayoral chain. When he asked why, she replied that there were no chains on the cisterns in the men's toilets and in the ladies there were no toilets! Organisers had only discovered on Saturday evening that the pavilion toilets were out of action and were faced with an unexpected £400 bill for hiring portable toilets.

Thankfully, Pendle Council this week agreed to foot the bill and investigate the toilet situation at the park as a matter of urgency.

Other attractions included a duck race, demonstrations by local firefighters, live music from local band Voodoo, a Punch and Judy show, a traditional street organ, bouncy castles and slides and Marshall Waddington's Fun Fair.

Unfortunately, some of the stalls had to stay away because of the weather, but others braved the conditions including cancer support charity Barnoldswick and Earby Bosom Friends and Age Concern West Craven.

One beneficiary of the strong winds, which earlier in the day picked up a gazebo and deposited it in a tree, was a balloon race raising money for the West Craven Warriors junior rugby league club.

The balloons were released at 2pm and the first one was found at 4.40pm at a farm near Northallerton.

A permanent attraction being developed at Victory Park is the new wheelie park. Stunt bike and BMX riders, skaters and skateboarders who use the facility also who gave spectacular displays of their skills.