And Friends of the National Waterways Museum, who organised the weekend, are now discussing whether to make the event an annual one after it was visited by more than 1,000 people.

Friends spokesperson, Lynda Payton, said Saturday saw large crowds but the weather on Sunday forced them to consider cancelling.

Mrs Payton said: "We suspended the parking charges in favour of donations and people were able to enjoy the indoor events which carried on."

She added: "But the best thing was seeing the large number of people who arrived in 1940s' period dress and actually took part in all the events, and how all the local residents had decorated their houses with flags and bunting which gave the whole event an authentic feel."

The weekend included a wide variety of 1940s' themed events and exhibitions.

Children from Stoke Bruene CofE Primary gave up some of their weekend to re-enact a war-time school lesson, and the school also hosted an exhibition of 1940s' memorabilia.

The Pitsford Home Guard living history unit patrolled
the village, while René's Cafe was open to support any local resistance forces.

The weekend also saw the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the memory of women from the Inland Waterways, who maintained canals during the war to ensure vital supplies reached powerstations and factories.

David Blagrove, chairman of the Friends, said: "We've had extremely good feedback from visitors and local people."

Money raised during the weekend will go towards the maintenance of the canal museum and, in particular, repairs to the museum's narrowboat.