BRILLIANT weather saw record crowds flock to the annual Stotfold Mill Steam and Country Fair at the weekend. It was the first time visitors could purchase the flour they were able to see being milled and by the end of the fair all the flour had been sold.

BRILLIANT weather saw record crowds flock to the annual Stotfold Mill Steam and Country Fair at the weekend.

It was the first time visitors could purchase the flour they were able to see being milled and by the end of the fair all the flour had been sold.

It was also the first time the old sack hoist had been in operation that was once used to lift two hundredweight sacks of corn from lorries to the top of the mill.

"It was a brilliant weekend and by far the best ever event we have held," said Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust chairman John Saunders.

"The fantastic weather meant we had over 10,000 visitors and probably raised between £15,000 and £20,000 towards the running costs of the mill for the coming year.

"At one stage we couldn't keep up with the demand for people wanting to buy Stotfold flour. But with a lot of hard work everyone who wanted flour got some and we ran out in the end."

Another popular attraction was the large number of steam vehicles on show and by the time the fair finished four tons of coals and thousands of gallons of water from the nearby River Ivel had been used to keep them working.