DARWEN Music Live drew to a close yesterday and, despite the showers, organisers said it was a "resounding success."

The weekend's wet weather could not dampen the crowd's spirits as they turned out in their thousands to watch the likes of Gone Beggin', The Blockheads and Oyster take to the main stage.

In its seventh year, the annual festival has grown into the biggest event on the town's calendar and some have said it is now the best free musical festival in Lancashire.

Event organiser, Gary Ward, of Darwen Music Projects, said this year had been the biggest and the best year and there was no chance that the rain could ever turn it into a damp squib.

He added: "Whatever the weather was going to be like, the line-ups were good and interesting enough to keep people happy."