FESTIVAL-goers demonstrated their ability to party whatever the weather as Watchet's musical extravaganza celebrated an unwelcome tradition - rain.

Watchet LIVE - now in its fifth year on the Parsonage Farm site above the town - has endured wet weather every year since the bands began rocking on The Esplanade a decade ago.

But although the heavens opened more than once during the three-day festival last weekend, the spirits of the thousands who attended were not dampened.

With 1,500 advance ticket sales - double last year's figure - a camping field full to bursting and a record 65 different acts performing, organisers declared the 2011 event an outstanding success.

"The weather was never going to be an issue," said chairman of the organising committee Mark Bale.

"We have a wet weather contingency plan and we just put it into action."

Trackways and bark chippings were laid to help everyone get safely on the field after heavy rain on Friday.

And with the sun shining at least some of the time on Saturday and Sunday, nobody noticed the lack of a bank holiday weekend heatwave: "Overall, it was a fantastic event," said Mark.

"When you look at the photographs taken over the three days, everybody is smiling and that just about sums it up.

"We've had really positive comments from both the people who came along to listen and those who were providing the entertainment, which is great.

"We pride ourselves on providing a good family-friendly event and that is what we achieved."

Around 2,500 people were on site for the headline evening performances, with hundreds tapping in to some of the many other attractions and entertainment on offer throughout the days.

From poetry to puppetry and graffiti art to the new fitness craze, Zumba, the list of attractions for visitors was varied.

Local churches even united to hold a combined service on the site.

Organisers had spent the last 14 months searching for bands, and securing Dreadzone - who flew in from Paris - and 2007 X-Factor winner Leon Jackson was clearly a coup.

"We had so much going on across the whole site, there really was something for everyone," said Mark.

"It's not just about music - it's so much more.

"And as the festival's reputation has grown, it has definitely brought a boost to the local economy."

Organisers are confident the festival has at least paid for itself, with any profits earmarked for local community projects.