HUNDREDS of families and music lovers flocked to a village pub for the revival of a free charity music festival.

The Wittstock Festival last took place in 2007, but about 300 people visited the Railway Inn, in Culham, to join this year’s festivities over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Organiser Phil Garvey said: “Everyone’s had a fantastic time and there has been some great music.”

Upwards of 30 different bands, most with local links, played over the weekend, and there was also an African drumming event and poetry readings.

In the evenings, a disco was held in the pub.

Acts performing included Wantage ska dance band Quadrophobe, Drayton’s the Dead Jerichos, blues singer Steve Morris from Drayton, The Black Hats from Abingdon and the Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band.

Mr Garvey’s old band, Free Spirits, also reformed to play together for the first time in 14 years.

He said: “We have had a very wide range of people, families, bikers, people who love going to music festivals, teenagers and environmentalists.

“There has been a wide range of ages and tastes, and we try to cater for as many different people as possible.

“It’s all been extremely well-natured and there's been a really nice ambience.”

Maurice Braithwaite, from Culham, said: “I’m having a brilliant time.

“It’s your typical bank holiday weekend chillout.”

The festival was originally held in Long Wittenham, but organisers took a break as they could not commit the time needed to plan the event.

But after putting on a similar event – Hanneyfest – last year, Mr Garvey said he decided it was so much fun it was time to bring the Wittenham festival back again.

Wittstock raises money for Cancer Research UK and for the Young Women’s Music Project, based at the Ark T Centre in Cowley, Oxford.

Mr Garvey said he hoped the festival would raise about £1,200.