The sun may not have been shining much, but thousands of people took the opportunity to take part in a series of open-air events over the weekend.

Most of the events were well supported.

There was a mock battle from the American War of Independence at Firle Place, near Lewes. Guns were fired and cavalry charged as the British-backed troops took on their American enemies.

Firle Place was once the home of General Tommy Gage, the commander of the British land forces in North America at the outbreak of the war.

The event was part of the Tom Paine Project. Paine once lived in Lewes, where he was an excise collector.

His pamphlet Common Sense, published during the American War of Independence in 1776, hardened people's attitude towards the idea of independence.

Members of the New France and Old England Re-enactment Society took part in the battle at Firle Place.

There was a touch of the Far East at the Japanese Festival held at the Cornerstone Community Centre, Palmeira Square, Hove.

It included martial arts displays, Japanese dancing, and an opportunity for people to learn about a different culture.

Television's top cop Burnside, alias Hove actor Chris Ellison, was the star attraction at the Newhaven Lifeboat Fete.

Chris opened the fete at the football ground in Newhaven. There were a variety of fund-raising activities, including radio-controlled boats and a special children's assault course.

The Poets' Corner Fun Day in Hove was attended by local MP Ivor Caplin, who watched some of his constituents take part in a range of sporting activities.

The Adur bathtub race again drew the crowds to the popular fun day out.

Thousands lined the banks and bridges of the River Adur between Upper Beeding and Shoreham.

Some tubs sank, others got stuck in the banks, while some of the more experienced crews were able to steer their vessels along the course without too much trouble.

Those able to get a vantage point on the bridges were delighted to be able to flour bomb vessels and their vulnerable crews as they paddled their way downstream.

Vendors did a roaring trade selling bags of flour to bomb the boats as they passed underneath the bridges. Spectators were warned not to throw any missiles which could harm any of those taking part.

Spectators also had high powered water pistols on the banks to give the crews a soaking, if they had not fallen into the river already.

Some of the more crudely made craft had difficulty in getting started and soon after the start at Bramber, vessels were going in all sorts of directions.

Spectators decided to get into the act at Bramber Bridge by jumping into the murky waters of the River Adur, after the flotilla of craft of differing shapes and sizes had passed below.

Some younger spectators decided to have flour bomb fights on the banks, walking away from the scene looking like ghosts.