JUST as brave stalwarts arrived on Devizes Green on Sunday with their umbrellas, picnic baskets and fold-up chairs ready for whatever the British weather could throw at them nature did its worst.

Organisers of Devizes International Street Festival had no choice but to abandon its afternoon of music and entertainment for a couple of hours as heavy rain made it dangerous for acts to carry on. But by 4pm the acrobats, circus acts and musicians were once again tuning up.

Many people once again flocked to the Green for a late afternoon and evening of fun, frolics and death defying feats.

But on Monday there were no such concerns about the weather as the action turned to Devizes Market Place and thousands of people of all ages enjoyed the sun and the entertainment that went from the bizarre to the beautiful as an incredible array of street artists gave wonderful performances in a series of free shows throughout the town centre.

Mayor Jane Burton said on Monday: "It was such a shame about the weather on Sunday. We were there when the heavens opened and there was nothing anyone could do.

"But today it is fantastic. It is wonderful to see so many people out in Devizes enjoying themselves. People work so hard to put all of this on and I am so glad that the sun is now out."

Town councillor Sue Evans was also pleased that the change in weather gave the event a huge boost. She said: "Devizes people are wonderful in the way they support all of these events. It was incredible."

On Sunday the stars of the show were Le Cirque du Platzak which included a temperamental aerialist, a Spanish toreador, a trumpeter on a slack rope and a German acrobat with a fascination for staplers.

Fullstop Acrobatic Theatre gave a show with a tongue in cheek message about masculine and feminine roles that gave the audience something to think about.

Circus Fergus was among those acts that got to perform its torch juggling routine on top of a giant unicycle on both days and so saw the best and worst of the weather.

Loz Samuels, the artistic director of Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts, had a difficult day on Sunday but by Monday she was delighted with the way the weekend had unfolded and thanked everyone for their help and support.

Her thoughts have now turned to Devizes Carnival procession on Saturday which will leave the Green at 6pm and promises to be a colourful extravaganza with a Rio theme.