UPTON was filled with people of all ages for the town's 14th annual folk festival.

Tickets for the main venues were sold out but many thousands more watched on-street displays by 50 morris dance sides or visited the riverside market stalls.

The festival was organised by Upton Folk Dance and Song Society, which packed pubs and two marquees with dance acts, bands and workshops. Almost 40 dance groups also joined in Sunday afternoon's procession through the centre of the town.

Dancers and musicians came from all over England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. There was even a group of Catalan dancers from Spain.

Roger Davies, chairman of the festival, said the weekend had been a great success.

"We had a very good time," he said. "We had lots of dancing in the streets and performers on stage and everything went smoothly."

Even the festival's history of sunshine remained untarnished.

"It was a bit iffy but it stayed dry," said Mr Davies. "Sunday was a magnificent day. We had all the sunshine we could possibly want. "We've always had good weather but I suspect we were quite lucky, as it did rain on Sunday night."

Next year's festival runs from April 30 to May 3. Planning is underway with several acts having already been confirmed. Mr Davies said festival-goers should not expect drastic changes.

"We have such a good time as it is that we don't want to do that much different," he said.