Stevenage’s Summer Safari was more tropical rainforest than scorching desert plains last Saturday, but despite torrential downpours for most of the day, it didn’t dampen the community spirit, with many people turning out to support the event.

A great line-up of entertainment was introduced by JACK fm presenter Steve Folland, including performances from the Camps Hill Cheerleaders, Dance with Suki and Zorro, Emma Ryan’s Zumba and the Senior and Junior Drama Academy from the Gordon Craig Theatre. Talented young singer Reese Robinson sang some chart-topping hits and will be returning to Stevenage in November for the Lights Switch-on.

People took shelter under umbrellas and the canopies to watch, as well as huddling under marquees while children had their faces painted or fished for piranhas to win an animal key-ring and �137 was raised for the Comet’s charity of the year The Living Room.

The rain eased and the sun came out for a brief spell, enabling the JACK girls to persuade four people to take part in a bush tucker trial that involved witchety grubs and boxes full of unknown things, winning a goody bag that was full of Jungle gems as well as cinema and bowling tickets.

The finalists of the I’m a Wannabe Celebrity talent search wowed the audience with some fantastic performances. The Sameerah Belly Dancers ignored the cold and wet stage to dance barefoot; little Cody Young, age 4, was a big hit with his version of Take That’s Kidz, which he belted out whilst sticking pegs to his head and Josh Clancy’s amazing football skills drew a huge cheer. The overall winner was Dance with Suki and Zorro with an innovative dance routine and the group scooped �100 in cash and �100 in shopping vouchers. All the acts were so good that the Stevenage Town Centre Management team has invited them all back to perform at Stevenage’s Christmas Lights Switch-on in November.

“It’s the first time the weather has been so dreadful for our annual summer event”, said Town Centre Manager Tracey Parry. “However, we were so pleased that lots of people still came along and, against the odds, it was still a successful day for the town.”