TURNING up to Endorseit festival in a pair of white Converse trainers was like arriving at a sword fight with a blunt craft knife.

Torrential rain had turned the Sixpenny Handley site into a veritable mud bath making it a busy weekend for vendors selling wellies and men with tractors.

But the weather's efforts to put a dampener on the event were futile and the festival took the elements in its stride.

Headlining the opening night were legendary ska outfit The Beat, who brought tried and tested tunes from their back catalogue, delivering them with the same gusto as when they first came on the scene.

Meanwhile, Imperial Leisure and The Talks showed that the young kids can bang out some cracking ska tunes too.

On Saturday, The Buzzcocks had it all to do in the pouring rain, yet despite the lead guitarist's insistence on behaving (and looking) like a drunk dad at a wedding, they showed they can still rock it out.

However, the highlight of the festival had to be The Highlanders last night. Their fancy dress, jovial spirit and banging ska, punk and pop-infused rock, gave flagging festival-goers a second wind and helped us forget about the mud, as did great sets by Dreadzone, Alabama 3 and Goldblades.