IT wasn't just the RAF Falcons parachute team which fell from the sky during the Bury Carnival Gala Weekend. Rain did too. Lots of it!

Although Saturday (June 8) proved relatively damp free, the rain returned with a vengeance the following day in what was a virtual wash-out.

The historic two-day carnival, organised by the Bury Times Group, had started so brightly on the Saturday when more than 10,000 visitors made their way on to the Goshen Playing Fields.

Three arenas were set aside for the entertainment which was complemented by a host of trade stalls, a mega funfair, Tower FM Roadshow, Motor Show, karts and quad bikes.

Although overnight showers meant limited car parking and the deployment of a tractor to haul some vehicles to and from the venue, the afternoon was thankfully free from further downpours.

And that was a real bonus for the crowds who were able to witness a spectacular parachute jump from the eight-strong RAF Falcons team.

Although low cloud meant they had to jump from their Hercules aircraft from a height of 2,300 ft, rather than the scheduled 12,000 ft, the parachutists proved to be the highlight of the day. With pinpoint accuracy, the squad fell from the sky in formation before their multi-coloured parachutes landed smack in the middle of the arena set aside for their descent. And the Hercules performed a low-level fly past much to the delight of the spectators.

An RAF colleague provided running commentary throughout and later the team mingled with spectators and signed autographs.

Arena acts embraced the R.J. Majorettes, Cath Ellis Street Dancers and West Lancs Dog Display Team.

And one of the animals who certainly got hot under the collar is pictured jumping through a hoop of fire during the demonstration.

In the late afternoon, as the first day of the carnival drew to a close, the damp conditions had turned the car park into a quagmire. A tractor was deployed by Damien Hanlon of Bury Council sub-contractors Draxeda to move vehicles and equipment stranded in the mud.

Alas, Flaming June failed to live up to its billing the following day. On Sunday, the heavens opened and the weather quickly took its toll, forcing the cancellation of all arena events. One of the casualties was the RAF Falcons who were unable to make their second scheduled parachute jump.

Virtually all the stalls were dismantled by the early afternoon.

Traders Anthony Price and Melvin Jackson of Dumers Lane-based Jake's Cabin came to the rescue of many stallholders by using their 4 x 4 vehicles to haul trapped cars and vans from the mud.

Carnival organiser Julie Wheeler, Bury Times events manager, was predictably disappointed by the intervention of the weather.

"We had geared ourselves for a two-day Bury Carnival and all the events and entertainment had been arranged with that in mind," she said.

"Unfortunately, because of the poor weather, we only managed to get one day out of it. But we can't control the weather. I would like to thank Damien Hanlon along with Mr Price and Mr Jackson for their help in getting vehicles off the ground. Their help was invaluable."