The weekend’s Ipswich Maritime Festival attracted a record 70,000 visitors to the Waterfront.

The three-day event pulled in 10,000 more visitors than came to the event last year – when it was held over two rather than three days.

Even the wet weather on Saturday did not put off visitors – organisers say 15,000 turned up on that day despite the drizzle and heavier rain.

The festival, part of the week-long Celebrate Ipswich, was organised by Ipswich Central and the borough council.

Council culture spokeswoman Bryony Rudkin said: “It was a happy and excellent festival that is growing in size and stature.

“Maritime Ipswich gives a really positive feeling about the town. There was so much to do and so much to see and I want to thank everyone who put it together. This is another example of how we are putting Ipswich on the tourist map.”

Paul Clement from Ipswich Central said: “It’s fantastic news for businesses that so many visitors have come to Ipswich.

“The concept of Celebrate Ipswich is to showcase the town as its very best to visitors. With the Spruce-up week before and the fantastic engagement we had from over 200 businesses during the week of celebrate the whole town was given a fantastic festival feel.

“This festival feeling spilled into the weekend and despite the weather on Saturday I am delighted that record numbers have still flocked to East Anglia’s Waterfront Town Centre over the whole weekend.”