Appalling weather may have played havoc with Worthing's seafront festival but it is still being hailed a success.

Leisure leaders in the town said the event had attracted people from across the South.

They estimate tens of thousands of people converged on the town for the three-day extravaganza.

Maurice Tucker, Worthing's executive member for leisure, said: "I was absolutely gutted with the weather but with all the work that went on behind the scenes, to make it run smoothly I see as a big success.

"There are a lot of unsung heroes who helped organise the festival."

He said he talked to people who had come from across the region who were full of praise for the number of events going around the town.

He said: "We need positive things like the festival to promote Worthing and get people into the town."

Mr Tucker added that organisers did not yet know how much was raised by the festival or how much it had boosted the local economy.