GIRLGUIDES from across the country descended on the Ribble Valley for an annual festival and fun weekend.

The Wellies And Wristbands Festival saw 1,500 girls aged 10 to 14 spend the Bank Holiday Weekend at Waddow Hall in Clitheroe singing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and enjoying other fun activities.

The event, which is now in its fourth year, also featured live music, a 100-metre water slide, facepainting, zorbs, pampering and camping.

Organiser Graham Geldard described the event as an overwhelming success and said it is getting better every year.

Mr Geldard, 40, said: “It give the girls the opportunity to come with their leaders and experience things they wouldn’t normally do, such as self-defence and first response training, in a safe girls-only environment. It’s like a mini junior Glastonbury with inflatables.

“It’s been an overwhelming success. We had a little bit or rain on Saturday and there was some thunder on Saturday night but the girls just saw that as a great learning experience.”

Mr Geldard thanked the 90 volunteers who helped run the event and said it could not have gone ahead without them.

Waddow Hall hosts private functions, weddings and bed and breakfast. Visit www.waddow.org.uk.