THOUSANDS of visitors are expected to flock to the UK’s largest daffodil festival despite “horror stories” in the national press.

Thriplow Daffodil Weekend, which has raised more than �300,000 for charity, will take place next weekend and will see a variety of stalls bring the village alive.

This year’s event coincides with Mothering Sunday and will feature live music, a working smithy, craft stalls and of course daffodils.

However the event has attracted interest from national newspapers claiming this year’s unusual weather has devastated the flowers.

Dan Munton, head of press for the event, said: “Despite all the horror stories we’re hopeful there will be a pretty high yield of daffodils as long as we don’t get snow continuously between now and a week on Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the visitors, the villagers are ready, the cakes are being baked and all the stalls are ready.”

Held from March 17-18, the festival will be the first since the committee behind the scheme received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services – considered the MBE of voluntary work.

Chairman of the committee behind the event, Tim Holmes, said: “We’re looking forward to the weekend.

“We’re hoping to welcome over 7,000 people to the event this year, last year was a record attendance.

“It continues to be a popular attraction for people wanting to see a rural village in action and we’re confident the daffodils will be in bloom.”

This year’s main beneficiary is Tom’s Trust which is run by a Fowlmere couple in memory of their son Tom Whiteley who died after a short cancer battle in 2010.

Tom’s Trust is aiming to raise enough money for a full-time pyschologist for children with brain tumours and their families at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where Tom was treated.

Deborah Whiteley, his mother, said: “We’re very much looking forward to it, it’s very special for us.

“It’s special because we used to go down there with Tom, and family, and Tom’s buried there and we’re the nominated charity.

“We felt very privileged that they are using our charity this year and it’s quite a personal one as well.”