THOUSANDS of music lovers descended on a tiny field in Charlbury for this year's Riverside Festival.

It was the 13th event held at the Mill Field - but the bad luck held off and people turned out in their droves to enjoy an eclectic array of music.

A total of 40 different bands and musical acts performed across two stages and up to 4,000 people turned up over the weekend for Oxfordshire's only free music festival.

Organiser Andy Pickard said: "It has gone very well - considering the weather.

"It was a great family atmosphere, we had lots of kids' things going on and the stage looked better than ever before.

"I would say we had the best line up of acts ever and it has been the best organised Riverside we have ever had - although probably the worst weather."

Saturday's wet and miserable weather made way for a beautiful day.

The line-up of bands - who all performed free - included Charlbury's Savage Henry, indie rockers Black Hats, Tristan and the Troubadours, Oxford band Witches and a Saturday night headline performance from punk rockers Smilex.

Smilex lead singer Lee Christian said: "It felt really good and I felt like people were responsive.

"I'm a 100 per cent fan of Riverside, it's like our family festival which has worked into the existence of this band - it's really personal when we play here."

Many villagers turned out for the festival, among them Anna Crisp, of Shilson Lane, who was celebrating her 16th birthday - at her eighth Riverside Festival.

She said: "It's the place to be. It's fun, it's sociable and I had a great time. We really like to support the local festivals."

Simona Di Pretoro, 35, from Italy, came from Oxford for the event.

She said: "It is fantastic, it is really nice. The bands are really good."

Alongside the music were stalls and a "wall" that people could paint.

Jess Hooley, 16, from Milton-under-Wychwood, west Oxfordshire, left her handprints on the wall.

She said: "What I like about Riverside is the people you can meet up with. All my friends come along and it's really nice to see local bands and new music that's coming up."

Her friend, Sarah Muddle, 16, added: "It's really good because everyone has just finished their exams.

"These bands are bands that could become famous later on - and that's quite exciting."