Floods can’t stop 2,000 children visiting Littlehampton

Children’s charity Variety – formerly the Variety Club – brought the happy band of daytrippers to the resort for its annual outing based around the Harbour Park amusement complex.

Further rain forecast late in the week never arrived, but there were many sunny smiles, even if the wind was blowing in strongly.

The youngsters, from across London and the south-east, had a great day enjoying free rides at Harbour Park and all that goes with a seaside visit.

Mayor Emma Neno was on hand to welcome the visitors, who included young carers, children with disabilities and health issues and others with parents serving overseas in the armed forces.

It was a happy engagement for Emma, who had seen much sadness amid the devastation of the floods in homes just a short distance from the amusement park, when she spent much time last week visiting the victims.

“To have this a few days later – seeing these children enjoying themselves and going around talking to them – is amazing,” she said. “It’s shown Littlehampton is still open for business – that it’s business as usual.”

Variety’s minibuses transporting the children were able to reach the seafront safely after Southern Water placed ramps over pipes laid to pump out excess water from the earlier flooding.