ORGANISERS of Lacock At War are keeping their fingers crossed for more settled weather tomorrow after numbers were down on the first day of their weekend show.

Re-enactment groups and other military enthusiasts were out in force at Lacock but visitors were not seen in the big numbers experienced in previous years.

John Wardle from the West Wiltshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust said: "People who are here are really enjoying themselves but the forecast for Saturday was terrible so you can't blame families for not turning out.

"But it is still all going very well. We have 15 re-enactment groups here and lots of other clubs and displays."

Last year the event was hit by bad publicity when a visitor claimed that some people taking part were dressed in Nazi uniforms.

At the time Mr Wardle said it had been sensationalised by one person. Today there were no Nazi uniforms or memorabilia on display and the organisers put up notices saying that everything on display was by private individuals.

He said: "The show is about education not about glorifying war."

One family taking part were Darren and Mandy Thomas and their 15-year-old son Louis who were dressed as soldiers from 11 Bravo, Vietnam who were part of the USA's 1st Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry.

Mr Thomas said: "We got to a lot of shows and it something we enjoy doing as a family."

Also dressed to impress was Kevin Porter from Melksham who is part of the Kennesau Confederate group set up to commemorate one of the most famous battles of the American Civil War in 1864.

He said: "I have a lot of interest in the history of the American Civil War."

Tomorrow (Sunday, August 11) the event will be open from 10am to 5pm.