AS MANY as 9,000 people passed through the doors of this year’s Dunbar SciFest.

Dunbar Primary School’s John Muir Campus and the nearby Bleachingfield Centre were packed for much of the weekend as people from near and far visited the event.

Dunbar SciFest co-ordinator Dee Davison was delighted with the response over the two days.

She described the feedback as “universally and resoundingly positive”, with the final visitor numbers, which are already up on last year, still being collated.

Last year’s event attracted 6,800 visitors, with early estimates putting the 2014 version somewhere between 8,500 and 9,000.

Dee said: “The visitor feedback was universally and resoundingly positive – the festival ran incredibly smoothly, the atmosphere was amazing and the events and activities were hugely popular.

“The army of event providers and parent volunteers that donated their time so generously had a blast!

“This unique festival, completely organised and delivered by a dedicated team of just 10 unpaid volunteers, is a testament to ‘parent power’ and the widespread support provided by the extraordinarily dynamic Dunbar community.” Events over the 11 days of the festival – with the main events at the weekend – included book readings, fire shows and food displays.

That included numerous experiments and demonstrations, as well as looking at how science and technology are changing many aspects of the modern world.

Dee said: “It’s brilliant that so many fascinating local scientists are prepared to provide their time, expertise and resources, year after year, to entertain and inspire the next generation.

“They were thrilled to report this year that children’s knowledge of, and interest in, science is increasing and they are amazed by how knowledgeable local children are, thanks to Dunbar SciFest and the fortnightly Dunbar Science Club.”