THOUSANDS flocked to a popular music festival which organisers described as their 'best year ever'.

The Sunshine Festival in Upton had six thousand people through the doors in dazzling sunshine to see famous bands including pop group Atomic Kitten featuring Kerry Katona and boyband Blue.

Amongst other favourites at the festival were Paul Young, Kim Wilde, Sophie Ellis-Bexter, The Three Degrees and The Wurzels and a host of popular local bands across four stages, running from Friday to Sunday.

It was not just the music which kept visitors entertained as wall climbing, water zorbing, crazy golf, bouncy castles and a new circus.

Festival organiser Steve High said: "I think this is our best year ever.

"It is a complete sell-out and we have around 6,000 people here, we would not want it to be any bigger.

"We think there is something here for every generation, there are tribute artists to current chart singers, as well as some very popular artists.

"Atomic Kitten and Bad Manners were really popular, as well as Chico and Blue, everyone wanted to see them.

"We are very thankful to our regular fans who come every year, it is part of the calendar for them and we have people coming from Scotland and Wales, and even someone from the Falkland Islands.

"The new circus has also gone down a storm and there are plenty of activities in addition to the music, there is a great food village and plenty of great children's activities."

For the festival, which began as a local family event eight years, people came from up and down the country.

Jane Claire and her friends came all the way down from Rochdale for the weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday. She said: "We heard about it at another festival, we were asked if we were going to Sunshine, so we checked it out and here we are.

"It has been a really great festival so far."

Acts have already been booked for 2018's festival including Status Quo as one of the headline acts.

For more details, and information on how to book early bird tickets, visit uptonfestival.co.uk.