SOULFUL singers provided music lovers with a treat as the brains behind Witney Music Festival hosted his first spooky Halloween event.

Witney Music Festival founder Stuart Foster will be celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary next year.

Always up for a challenge, for 2015 he organised the festival’s first Halloween-themed event and pronounced it a great success.

Mr Foster, 34, who started the festival after his sister Jo Marie Foster died 10 years ago, at the age of 21, said: “Doing a small festival reminded me of the first festival we ever did.

“It gave it that innocence back and the artists really enjoyed it.

“We were so excited that they wanted to be part of it for the first time.”

A total of eight different pubs and venues in Witney were filled with music, with 30 acts for revellers to enjoy.

Mr Foster added: “It was perfectly timed, Halloween being on a Saturday, as Witney was heaving.

“Now it’s over, we are working on next year’s Witney Music Festival.”

All the events, which ran from last Wednesday until Sunday, were free and offered something for all tastes, including open mic nights, acoustics, soul, rock, disco, and more.

Mr Foster said: “We always want to appeal to everyone. We don’t make any money out of this.

“It gives something back to the community and puts a smile on the face of Witney.”

Festival founder Mr Foster lives in Witney with partner Rebecca Timms, who also helps with the event each year.

It was set up after his younger sister Jo died from heart failure in November 2005.

She had one daughter, Katie, who is now 10.

He added: “I want to keep this running so, if Katie wants to when she’s older, she can take it on and help run it too.”

Bands at the event last week included youth band RockSolid, folk pop group The Red Shift, and a capella folk band The Longest Johns.