TV cameras boost for Morecambe steampunk festival

Around 3,000 people came to witness the town’s regular festival after it appeared on BBC1 programme Inside Out on their opening night on Friday.

Ian Roberts, who organises A Splendid Day Out with wife Rosemary and friend Rob Bracewell, explained the popularity of the cult phenomenon which combines the Victorian era with science fiction. He said: “It was an instant success.

“The coverage from the BBC brought us massive interest, we had people coming in from all over the country.

“When they showed the programme on Friday the BBC said it was the most watched video in England, it has 35,000 views at the moment.

“A couple came up to me and started stroking my severed arm piece because they seen it on the programme.”

Badges which paid homage to Rob Bracewell’s BBC comment, calling the 
group, “splendid but faintly ridiculous” sold out during the three day festival over the weekend.

Tea duelling and teapot racing was also a popular attraction for visitors.

Ian said: “Tea duelling is always massive, it is what we are all about. We also had tea pot racing, one of our members is an engineer and he makes them specially.”