TRUE British grit ensured the success of West Somerset's biggest spectacle of free outdoor entertainment. Damp and sometimes chilly conditions failed to keep the crowds away from the Watchet Carnival Weekend which hit the town with all the excitement, thrills and spills of previous years. The carnival, now in its eighth year in its current format, provided two days and three nights of family fun and attractions, from the moment the Watchet Royal British Legion Band heralded the launch last Friday night to the grand finale firework display on Sunday evening. Bands ranging from Payday and Area 52 to Riverbrew, Queenb and the one man and his guitar of Gary Law provided the excellent spread of musical entertainment that has become the trademark of the festival weekend. And the Wurzels, making their third appearance in Watchet, proved as popular an attraction as ever. Carnival club chairman Mark Bale said: "It was absolutely brilliant - we keep saying it can't get bigger and better, but it does. "We had at least 3,000 people on the East Quay for the first two evenings of music, rising to around 5,000 on the final night. "The weather was anything but great and it was a bit damp and cold in the evenings but people showed they were British and came out regardless - everyone had a really good time." Organisers say police reported no problems throughout the event, which this year cost £35,000 to stage. Mr Bale said the logistics of staging the entertainment, which includes the highlight of the weekend, the traditional carnival procession, were becoming increasingly difficult. A 12-strong committee has been responsible for steering and organising the 2005 spectacle and Mr Bale said few people realised the efforts that went on behind the scenes. "We've had a difficult year with marriages, new additions to families and some committee members leaving. "But we now feel we've got possibly the strongest team ever. It's been tougher than ever to make sure that we keep admission free and we're not really sure what will happen next year. "Putting the weekend together is very hard work but it's worth it when you pull it off and you see the success of the whole event." In addition to the musical entertainment, the weekend included a kids' festival for youngsters of all ages that provided five hours of games, performances and activities. Sunday's fete on the Memorial Ground kick-started the line-up of attractions for the final day of entertainment, with more than 70 side stalls and a host of activities. And it paved the way for the popular carnival procession, which wound its usual route through the town along streets lined with onlookers. Organisers said numbers were up and standards were high, with more than a smattering of fun and humour in the line-up of walking and wheeled entries. From a touch of Arabian nights to fairies in the grotto, competitors had used all their skills and talents to ensure a procession that was bound to delight and entertain the crowds.