Wild weather may have kept crowds and cash collections down but organisers still declared the 35th Torchlight Carnival the best ever.

Organiser Ron Clancy said although the £60,000 event may not break even this year, star efforts by stunning street performers helped put the event firmly on the carnival calendar.

"It was an extremely good night for everyone," he said. "We didn't quite get the weather but even so I think it's the best Torchlight we've ever had. We had more street performers than ever before and they were incredible."

He added: "Numbers were definitely down on last year because of the rain and therefore the cash count is also down. It cost £60,000 to put on and we usually break even but probably not this year."

As dancers shaked and shimmied, newcomers to the carnival Staveley's Kookaburras lifted the crown for best in procession, best new entrant and best display band.

Cumbrian Westmorland Federation of WIs threw themselves into this year's theme Beat of the Feet Culture of Carnival as dancing members donned fruit and frills. Disguised as a canny Carmen Miranda, WI member Kathryn Nicholson said: "This is the WI as you've never seen them before."

Months of hard work paid off for Kendal's Mint Caf Bar who teamed up with dancing girls from Stagecoach, Kendal College and professional carnival band Batala Deadbeat drummers as they took the trophy for best commercial organisation under 50 employees.

Fed up skateboarders from SK8 The Lakes used the event to pedal politics. Fourteen-year-old Queen Katherine School pupil Shannon Wallace pleaded: "We really want a skatepark. We need a skatepark, we've got nowhere to go."

But as the rain poured, Carnforth's Tony Rimmer tried to protect the town's giant pride and joy, Astrid.

"She's our protective giant, she keeps us safe in Carnforth, but unfortunately her head is made of papier mach," said Mr Rimmer.

But the damp giantess batting for Carnforth Town Twinning Association brought home a prize, taking the Town Mayor's choice.

Organisers had hoped for 30,000 spectators but Mr Clancy blamed Mother Nature for falling figures.

"It may have rained but everyone was still smiling," he said. "I'm not sure how many were there, but it was down on last year."

Trophy Winners: Commercial organisations 100 plus employees: ASDA Stores.

Commercial organisations 50 to 100 employees: Brewery Arts Centre.

Commercial organisation under 50 employees: Mint Caf Bar.

Charitable organisations: Beck Out of School Club.

Clubs/societies: Milnthorpe School Band. Y outh groups and schools up to 18 years: Stramongate School.

Youth groups and schools under 12 years: St Oswald's CE Primary School, Burneside.

Marching bands: Merseyside Army Cadet Pipe Band. Display bands: The Kookaburras. Bands/majorettes (youth): Atherstone Youth Marching Band. Individual/foot group/private entry: Stone The Crows.

Horse section: Phillip Bickerton.

Best new entrant: The Kookaburras.

Most humorous: NFU.

Town Mayor's choice: Carnforth Town Twinning. Best interpretation of the theme: Milnthorpe Steel Band.

South Lakeland District Council chairman's award: Ghyllside Primary School.

Best overall in procession: 1 The Kookaburras; 2 The Barracudas.

The people's choice: 1 Atherstone Youth Marching Band; 2 Hush.