But determined organisers and festival goers who had set a target of 500 people together battled through the conditions to successfully set the record for the most people dancing to the hornpipe simultaneously.

A first attempt saw everyone rush into Hartlepool Museum, in the Historic Quay, as the outdoor event was cancelled after several downpours.

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A packed room of around 100 people struggled to move never mind dance as they were treated to a performance by schoolchildren doing the sea shanty.

Everyone thought it was all over and the world record attempt had been washed away with the rain but a bright spell later in the day saw organisers rush outside for a second attempt.

And they surpassed their target of 500 people as 515 weather weary visitors danced along to Eliza Carthy's music all over the site.

Four trapeze artists from the Hang Aerial Theatre were planning on doing a hornpipe with a difference as they dangled upside down from a wire but their plan was spoiled by the rain.

Choreographer of the Hartlepool Hornpipe, Amanda Drago, from Falling Cat, said: "The weather was a great shame and caused us all sorts of problems.

"We had to go inside because of the weather because it was just too wet to safely do it outside. Thankfully we got a bright spell later on so we just took our chance and managed to get an outdoor performance with the Sea Cadets, which went really well."