A WATERLOGGED park and terrible weather led to the first ever cancellation of the annual Scout & Guide Fete in Barry on Saturday (July 7) - but one Barry scout group was determined the fun would continue back at their base!

Hundreds of scouts and guides and thousands of visitors were left disappointed, after organisers were forced to call off the 59th annual fete at Romilly Park.

The ground had been left underwater, making it unsafe for participants and visitors.

Organisers said it was impossible to put up their tents and stalls and the ground was slippery and dangerous underfoot, particularly for the main event of horse-drawn chariot racing.

News that the fete had fallen victim to the weather was spread via social networking sites.

But despite the cancellation, one Barry scout group was determined the fun would continue in some form back at their base.

11th Barry Scouts, who operate out of the White Crest base on Ilminster Road, welcomed 'Scout' - the animated character belonging to the movement's new phone app - and a guest, who journeyed to Barry from South Africa.

Acting scout leader Brian Foley said: "We were determined that we had to try and do something, and it was a success.

"We were shoulder to shoulder and the team gelled. We had a magnificent afternoon!"

The annual fete costs £10,000 to stage and the weather failure means the movement could lose ten per cent of the costs of running its vital training programmes for scouts and girl guides throughout the year.

The fete committee were due to meet yesterday (July 11) to decide whether an event can be organised for the autumn.