The event is one of the most hotly-anticipated in the calendar of the City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS), and a chance for all the members to celebrate following a spectacular year that saw them ranked one of the top 50 clubs in the country.

But with the rain pouring down on Friday, and more bad weather forecast for the weekend, there were fears yesterday's event might have to be called off if some shelter could not be found in time.

The barbecue had already been postponed once because it clashed with a major swimming gala in June, so desperate organisers sent out an SOS to The Evening Telegraph.

An appeal was put on TheET's website – www.peterboroughtoday .co.uk – seeking help from anyone that might lend them a tent large enough to allow their members to stay dry while eating and allow some indoor games for youngsters to take place.

And within minutes, a fairy godmother in the shape of city company GL Events Snowdens, waved a magic wand and restored the feel-good factor, with 160 members tucking into the barbecue under cover of canvas at the Three Horseshoes in Yaxley, near Peterborough

COPS press officer David Standish-Leigh said: "This was an amazing offer which came so quickly after The ET published our appeal on its website.

"The parents and swimmers are extremely grateful to The ET and GL Events Snowdens for their support."

Keith Bishop, from GL Events Snowdens, saw the appeal and contacted David and was able to offer the swimming club exactly what it needed to make sure the event could go ahead.

Mr Bishop said: "We are extremely busy at the moment because we are involved with the Burghley Horse Trials, near Stamford, but when we saw the appeal from the swimming club we felt that we had to help out."