Melksham Mayor Richard Wiltshire with French twin town representative Beatrice Rucheton take a closer look at the South African Jackal Buzzard with handler Nick Scrivin
A SPRING Festival in Melksham survived the threat of three major sponsors pulling out and bad weather and proved to be a fun-filled family day out on Saturday.
The rain held off for most of the day and the sponsors stuck with the event, but the organisers, Melksham 1st, say next year's festival is still at risk.
Carolyn Beale, director of Melksham 1st, said: "The event is still in jeopardy in the future due to the fact that it's been so difficult to get sponsorship from local companies.
"When the Spring Festival started back in 2004 the whole point of it was to highlight the river and promote Melksham's nicer areas while also helping community groups. Since then it's developed and for me, it's a spring country day event that's free for the whole community - and there aren't a lot of free things nowadays."
About 75 different groups had stands at the event and there were rides and attractions throughout the day. There was live music and dance, animals from Larkrise Community Farm near Trowbridge, a falconry display and boat trips and canoeing on the river.
A group of French visitors from Melksham's twin town of Avon paid a visit to the festival too.
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Town mayor Cllr Richard Wiltshire said: "We took the council representative from Avon's twinning association to the Spring Festival and I think she really enjoyed it.
"We did a tour of the whole event and it was very good.
"There seemed to be more stalls and people there than last year - it appeared to be better supported. It will help build up interest in the Kennet and Avon Canal project for the town."
Cllr Wiltshire said the highlight of the festival for him was the falconry display.
A bunch of keys on a Shaw Trust keyring and a child's silver cross necklace were found after the event - if anyone has lost either of these contact Carolyn Beale on (01225) 899265.
More photos in this week's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.
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