SUCH is the reputation of Lymm Historic Transport Day now, the damp start seemed to make no difference to visitors who turned up in record numbers at the weekend.

Early arrivals were treated to a spectacular 'drive-in' through the village featuring bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, classic cars, the Batmobile and a variety of steam engines.

The procession concluded with the May Queen floats whose own event had cruelly been a victim of the weather two weeks previously.

Organisers held their breath when the Spitfire flypast, scheduled for 11.20am, was put on hold due to low cloud.

But at around 1.10pm the distant drone of a Griffon engine was heard and thousands of pairs of eyes turned skyward as the packed event field fell almost silent.

Organisers say grown men admitted to shedding a tear at the awesome sight of the Battle of Britain Spitfire as it made three passes over the field, signing off with the traditional wing waggle.

Back on the ground more than 8,000 people were treated to an unforgettable day.

Grace Holdsworth and Beatriz Brown got to take a dinosaur for a walk while the Mayor cllr Les Morgan nearly got to feed one.

The Lego and model railway halls were packed all day while the new Heritage centre welcomed 1,300 visitors.

Hundreds of kids got to take control of a real digger and ride The Whitfield Light Railway on its debut appearance.

The colour and excitement up at the canal was unmatched with crowds all day enjoying over a dozen engines in full steam and a spectacular collection of boats who rounded off the day with a sailpast in perfect sunshine.

Lymm is a village that has quite a reputation for 'putting on a show'  but as one local businessman Neil Stockdale observed: “This was surely the greatest village event Lymm has seen in recent history." 

Alan Williams