A SMALL town’s very large festival attracted crowds of more than 20,000 over the weekend.

And organisers have said that Wallingford’s free community festival BunkFest was the biggest ever.

The festival has been growing every year since the annual event was launched 12 years ago and last year saw 20,000 in the town.

BunkFest chairman Colin Dolton said: “It is certainly the biggest we have had, there were more people than ever.

“The atmosphere has been really good and traders have been telling me they have had the best takings.”

He added the festival probably gave the town an estimated £1m boost.

Town residents joined visitors from much further afield to celebrate the music, beer, dancing and activities on offer.

Wallingford resident Scot Corrall, 31, attends every year and took three-year-old Lara to join in with the festivities.

He said: “We were wandering around all over Wallingford watching all the different performances going on.

“It is great to get out and watch everyone milling around, particularly with the weather like it was. It was fun.

“We watched the Morris dancers on the main stage which was really good – it is always interesting to see what they wear.”

Lara added: “I had my face painted. I had a butterfly because it is pretty. And I went on the bus ride and blew bubbles.”

Festival activities centred on the Kinecroft but events and stalls sprung up all over the town.

Another attraction – the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway steam engines – made Adam Steven’s day.

The two-year-old and his father Lee Stevens travelled 120 miles from Colchester for the weekend.

Mr Stevens said: “He absolutely adored the steam engines. We went back to them five or six times.

“He sat on the steam engine and sounded the horn, he absolutely loved it.”