Organisers of the Sherston Boules Festival woke up on Saturday to a downpour which threatened to ruin the weekend.

But despite volunteers being drenched as they set up the pitches where 128 teams were due to play, the weather brightened around noon and and the crowds swelled.

Tony Weedon, chairman of the organising committee, said that, to his surprise, fundraising levels seemed to be on par with previous years although the total amount raised will not be announced until September.

He said: “I’ve been doing this for 15 years and it was the wettest start I can remember.

“People got absolutely soaked getting everything ready. I had to go home and change my clothes. It was a pretty miserable morning.”

Mr Weedon said: “The people of the village came out and supported us really well.

“We’ve been counting up the money and we’ve been surprised to see that it looks like we’re going to make around the average.

“We’re not going to do as well as last year’s 25th anniversary but it’s similar to the years before that.”

Once again, visitors from Gien scooped first prize with Londoners The Riflemen losing out in the final 13-5. Tom Dryden’s Tigers were the best placed local team.