POP, film and TV stars joined 12,000 people for what has been described as the “most amazing” Cornbury Festival so far.

Actress Sienna Miller, actor Orlando Bloom, former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, comedian Dom Joly, and Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt were among those enjoying three days of music, comedy and entertainment at Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton.

Festival director Hugh Phillimore last night hailed the weekend, the festival’s 12th, as the best yet.

Numbers were boosted by good weather and a line-up which included Sir Tom Jones, Lulu, Razorlight and Motown legend Martha Reeves.

Festival-goers were also delighted by surprise guest appearances by Joss Stone and Seal.

Mr Phillimore said: “It has been amazing. Tom was really good, Razorlight were excellent and having an appearance from Seal was great. We didn’t know we were going to get him until a couple of weeks ago.”

Seal provided one of the defining moments of the festival with a rousing guest spot during which he joined the crowd, to be garlanded with flowers from fans.

Oxford Mail:

Crowds cheer Lulu during her set

Saturday was dominated by the headline show by Sir Tom Jones. His set divided fans, with some complaining that he had reinterpreted his hits in different styles – presenting them as boogie-woogie, salsa and a jazz-swing-version of Sex Bomb – though others enjoyed his sense of playfulness – including the group of women holding aloft a giant pair of ‘granny-pants’.

Oxford Mail:

Youngsters dressed up in colourful costumes for the festival fun

Alexandria Monk, from Kennington, was enjoying her first Cornbury.

She said: “It has been brilliant, It was fun. I’ve always been a fairly hardcore rock fan and have been going to festivals for 16 years but this has been great. I was a cynic before, thinking it was a festival for people that didn’t understand festivals, but I’ve been proved wrong. It’s been so good!”

Oxford Mail:

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was among the celebrities spotted

She added: “The funniest moment came when Sienna Miller’s child stole my shoes in front of the mainstage. I did get them back though.”

She added: “I like the fact Tom put a fresh twist on his old tunes. He’s been doing them for 50 years and I understand he needed to do them differently. It was good to have a surprise.”

Radio and TV presenter ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris was backstage, with his wife Trudy and son Miles recording private sessions from many of the artists. He said: “Cornbury is wonderful – especially for country music lovers like us. It has been great to catch up with some good friends.

“Cornbury started life as consciously un-cool, but it has grown out of that and actually become very cool indeed.

“It appeals to people of all ages and tastes with a very diverse and eclectic line-up – and is simply good fun.”

Oxford singer-songwriter Nick Cope, formerly of rock band The Candyskins, was entertaining children with a selection of his humorous songs. He said: “It’s brilliant. It’s a very safe festival and I love the fact there are loads of kids around. My brother Mark is also here – so it’s the closest we’ve got to a Candyskins reunion too.”

Stuart Macbeth, frontman of vintage jazz band The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band headlined the festival’s Riverside Stage last night and closed the festival with a rousing late night set in the campsite bar. He said: “I’ve had a really good time.

“It’s all been well-behaved fun. We came we played, we conquered - and now I’m off for a nap!”