THE organisers of a giant water slide that wowed Derby have said it "brought the community together".
Our Mickleover and the sponsors also thanked the fire service for stepping in and saving the day when the 100m-long inflatable was struggling to get enough water down it for the daredevils.
And they said the event, which saw thousands flock to the city, would go down as "a day to remember".
The 328ft slide was placed in Kipling Drive, Mickleover, on Sunday. Roads were blocked and extra public transport was put on so that people could get to the attraction.
It was the brainchild of community group Our Mickleover and sponsored by Huub Design, which designs and manufactures specialist triathlon wetsuits and accessories, and Derby construction company MBS.
Huub founder and director Dean Jackson said: "We did have a heart-stopping moment at the beginning of the day when we realised, despite all the reassurances, that the water pressure was not going to be enough for the slide.
"Thankfully, Derbyshire Fire Service came to the rescue and we were soon back to the original plan.
"Everybody was very patient and the feedback from those who hurtled down the slide was great. Speed and water is what Huub is all about so we just had to get involved in this great event right here in Mickleover.
"This was all about creating an event that was fun for all the family, brought the Mickleover community together and showcased the city as a whole. I think the whole day was a huge success and we were delighted to have played our part.
"Hundreds of people enjoyed the slide and the zip wire, stalls and fairground on the adjacent field and there was a real buzz about the place."
Participants paid £5 to shoot down the giant slide on Sunday with all profits being donated to charity. Another 100 'golden tickets' were made available on the day to thrill-seekers wishing to get wet.
Both Huub and MBS were founded in Mickleover and are still run by local people.
Well over 800 people took the opportunity to go down and the MBS team collected £1,000 in ticket sales from those who had pre-booked and the hundreds of others who took the opportunity to take up the tickets released on the day.
Adam Stevenson, managing director of MBS, manned the fire hoses at the top of the slide throughout the day. He said: "It was an exhausting but really enjoyable day and it was great to see so many people come out to support this event which was organised by local volunteers to bring the whole community together.
"We did have some hurdles to overcome but, working in construction, we are used to facing challenges head on and finding a solution. What mattered was that we overcame those and worked together to ensure this event was the success that everyone wanted it to be.
"We were very lucky with the weather and I am delighted that all the hard work that everyone from Our Mickleover, Huub and MBS put in made this a real day to remember in Mickleover."
