Families and fun-lovers braved the rain on Saturday to enjoy the array of displays and activities at this year's Reigate Community Festival.

The crowds headed for the sixth annual event in Priory Park organised by the Reigate Events Collective, with the aim of raising funds to encourage local events, supporting the community, arts and sports, and jointly celebrating Armed Forces Day.

In return for ignoring the drizzle, festival-goers were treated to a mix of main arena displays, live music, stalls, food and refreshments and the Tommy Matthews Fairground.

Children could try their hand at juggling and other tricks in a Circus Skills tent, saddle up for a free donkey ride laid on by the sponsorship of TWM , or experience Jedi training at the hands of the Galactic Knights group.

An acoustic lounge offered live music throughout the day, with acts including the Redstone Community Big Band, Dark Ages and Stephanie Davies and the Super Dynamics.

And in the main arena there were displays mounted by Sky Birds of Prey, Hipsinc Belly Dancing, students from the Italia Conti School and Star Steppers.

The arena finale saw the traditional Tug-of-War contest won by the Community Team, which was made up of local police and Sutton and East Surrey Water and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council staff.

Armed Forces Day was marked by attractions including displays of military vehicles and a military band performance. Local charities and community groups also offered fun activities, many of them free. Reigate Events Collective chairman Kamal Mehmood said: “It was another incredibly successful day, thanks to all our stallholders and performers, the local authority teams, the hard work of everyone who volunteered to help, including members of the Rotary Club of Reigate and the Reigate Rugby Football Club, staff at Reigate Priory School, Reigate and Banstead Voluntary Services and Volunteer Centre, a small but enthusiastic committee who work for many months before, to make sure the day runs smoothly, and of course, the local residents who come along and join in so enthusiastically every year.”

For more details about Reigate events Collective and to see photos of the day visit the website at: www.reigatecommunityfestival.co.uk/media