FESTIVAL goers have hailed the weekend's BunkFest event as a fabulous celebration of "English eccentricity".

More than 20,000 people descended on Wallingford for the three-day gathering, which came to a rousing finale on Sunday night.

Named after the Wallingford Bunk - the former rail service which connected the town to the mainline at nearby Cholsey, the festival features music, dancing, food and, of course, train rides along the preserved branch line.

Now in its 15th year, the free festival began when Bob Wyatt, then-owner of the Cross Keys pub in High Street, held a party under a marquee for a birthday. It has since mushroomed into the biggest event in the town’s calendar.

Musical highlights this year included Space Elevator, The Demon Barbers XL and Rusty Shackle. Local bands included Oxford community street band Horns of Plenty, Wallingford a capella band Cats Chorus and Oxford folk group Moonrakers.

The festival was launched with a set on Friday by singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid.

The Chicago-raised artists is a regular at the festival, having played it three times. This year's set was the first of a 655-date tour of the UK and USA.

She said: "Last year I did an evening concert in the Corn Exchange, which is a gorgeous venue, but this year they gave me the honour of opening the festival.

"BunkFest is a lovely festival, with such a good atmosphere all around the town and it's run by a fantastic group of volunteers."

Alex Elderfield, 44, from Blewbury, near Didcot, was there with his family. He said: " It's a wonderful celebration of English eccentricity.

"The entire family – three generations of us – had a fabulous time, sampling all sorts of different food, listening to music and watching the dancing – from belly dancers to some strange, wild Morris dancing.

"We loved Horns of Plenty, who we watched before it started chucking it down on Saturday – and the kids loved dancing along."

He added: "It was the second time we have been to BunkFest; it's the best thing in the area. Everyone enjoys it, it's very safe – and it's free!"