VISITORS to Wylam on Saturday were blown away, not by the weather, but the fun of the fair at the village’s summer celebration.

Despite powerful winds taking a marquee or two out of action, Wylam Summer Fair was proclaimed an overwhelming success.

For bright sunshine also filled the village for the traditional community celebrations.

Over 2,000 people are estimated to have flocked to the Jubilee Field for the fun-filled event – topping last year’s numbers.

And the final figure is yet to be confirmed, but the show is anticipated to have raised a significant amount for Wylam Community Playing Fields Association, which provides sporting and recreational facilities for the village.

Ken John, of the playing field association, said: “A great success was the overwhelming verdict of everyone who attended.

“There was a delightful atmosphere and there is no doubt that it was a very successful day.

“We raised a significant amount of money towards the maintenance and improvement of the playing fields and associated equipment.”

The fair was opened at 1pm by villager Robin Piette accompanied by three reception class pupils from Wylam First School; Peter Greenshields, Amber Ewart and Imogen Leahy.

A packed programme of entertainment filled the afternoon, with performances from Prudhoe Community Band, Scottish Dancers and the Wylam Singers, a village choir led by National Choir of the Year Director Simon Fidler.

Last year’s popular bogie time-trials returned, with children’s and adults’ races hotly contested by all.

David Coady was named the male Mary Berry of Wylam, as his ginger sponge cake took the top spot in the all-male bake-off competition.

In the days leading up to the fair, the streets and lanes of Wylam played host to a strange combination of characters for the annual scarecrow competition.

Villager Viv Smith was named Scarecrow Champion 2017 for her imaginative Snow White tableau.

Fair-goers enjoyed a host of stalls offering tempting treats and crafts and those run by local charities and community groups.

And throughout the day, bookworms had the opportunity to get their nose stuck in a new tome at the annual book sale at Wylam Methodist Church.