THIS year’s Haydon Bridge Festival proved a hit with crowds despite less than stellar weather.

In what has become an annual tradition for the village, the football field at Low Hall Park was transformed into a concert venue on Saturday, featuring the best of local music, food and beer.

The festival was opened by 15-year-old country singer Jason Arnup, followed by the Tynedale Big Band, Humshaugh’s Amy Ridley, cover band the Sub Limes and headliners Stratosphonic.

There was plenty for fans of real ale to enjoy too, with beers from the Allendale Brewery, Twice Brewed, High House Farm Brewery and Big Lamp Brewers.

The festival is also a successful fund-raiser, with last year’s event raising more than £4,000 for good causes across Tynedale.

This year, the festival’s main beneficiaries are the Great North Air Ambulance, Hexham-based charity We Can and the My Name’5 Doddie foundation.

Organisers have yet to reveal the final total raised by this year’s festival, but the large crowds have left them feeling optimistic.

Avril Kirsopp, who is a member of the festival’s organising committee, said: “We haven’t added up the fund-raising yet, but it was really busy, a big success.

“It was an absolutely fantastic atmosphere, the bands were great. The weather was damp, but it didn’t seem to affect the day.

“There were a lot of local people but there were also a lot of strangers there, I’m not quite sure why!

“I think people are coming and having a good time. We’re not getting bigger in terms of music or beer, but the crowd was bigger than last year.”

The festival, which is now in its fourth year, also featured a variety of food, including a hog roast, crepes and wood-fired pizza from Hexham’s Fire and Dough.