The sixth Kingsbridge Food and Music Festival drew in thousands of people for a weekend of partying in the Town Square.

As always, the event was fortunate with the weather. And organisers estimate that as many as 5,000 people attended over the course of the weekend.

On offer was a selection of food and drink from 22 local food traders, as well as a packed line-up of bands and musicians to entertain the crowds.

The festival featured many local bands as well as artists from further afield. The highlight for many was the London group Aftersun, an “exciting party band with a difference” who played on Friday evening.

Kingsbridge Buskers - featuring students from Kingsbridge Community College - also performed, as well as Panache - who stopped the rain during their first song.

Rob Wheeler, music and stage co-ordinator said: “It’s an intention to give a strong element of diversity to the music line-up, to match the diversity of the local food on offer.”

Other highlights over the weekend included Joanna Cooke, Ben Roberts, Lee Rahn, Echo Town and Tankus the Henge.

The music also spread across the town, with a band playing on Sunday night at the Regal Club after the festival and closed, and a folk night at the Hermitage on Saturday.

The festival also had a kids’ zone, with face painting, a disco and a bouncy castle. And organisers had compostable cups on offer, to try and cut down on the huge amount of waste created.

James Norton from the committee said: “The festival was amazingly well-supported. It was much busier than in previous years, which was good for the musicians and the food traders.

“With food, we like to offer something for everybody, from goats milk ice cream to lamb wraps and funky hot dogs.

“The ethos is to put on a great party in the town every year, but we’re running pretty ‘close to the penny’ for next year’s event.”

James continued: “In a nut-shell though, we want to carry on next year. But realistically, it’s the tightest it’s ever been, with greater financial pressures on the logistics of organising the festival.

“We rely on the generosity of the people of Kingsbridge to keep us going - if we received just a couple of pounds from everyone who attended, that would keep us going for years to come.”

The festival, which is free to enter, receives sponsorship from Toad Hall Cottages, with the rest of the money coming from food stalls and collecting donations. A committee of seven organise the event, beginning the planning in January.

James added: “We’d like to thank Toad Hall Cottages for their sponsorship, as well as the committee - Steve Mammett, Natasha Bradley, Rob Wheeler, John Hardy, Amanda Keetley and Tim Stathers. And also the Creeks End, Nick T Electrics and all those other volunteers who never get a mention.”

The festival is now crowdfunding £5,000 to try and secure next year’s event for the town.

James said: “If we don’t raise around that mark, we will struggle to put the festival on next year.

“We love doing it, we love the fact that Kingsbridge has another date in the diary and we love the town coming together, but without some support it will be difficult to continue.”

To support the Kingsbridge Food and Music Festival, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kingsbridge-food-and-music-festival.