Wash Common community festival and garden and craft show pull in the crowds for bumper weekend

The Wash Common Community Festival proved to be more popular than ever when it returned to Falkland Cricket Club at the weekend.

The fifth annual event took place on Saturday (September 27) and saw people enjoy an afternoon of live music, classic cars, food and community events.

Two music tents provided entertainment throughout the event, with East Woodhay Silver Band starting the musical proceedings, followed by The Unwashed Commoners, Newbury Ukulele Band and finally 45RPM. Kennet Radio kept the music flowing in between set changes.

On the cricket field, forty local community and charity groups and craft sellers set up their stalls, fundraising and spreading the word about their organisations, while pikemen dressed in Civil War costume from the Battlefields Trust mingled with the crowds.

Visitors turned detectives too, as the Friends of Newtown Cemetery performed a true local crime story from the Victorian era, with actors dressed in period costume engaging the public in their quest to locate the villain.

Classic cars - ranging from pre-war vehicles to more recent models - were on display in the car park, with people having their photo taken in a 1936 Rolls Royce in exchange for a donation to charity.

People could also try their hand at pétanque, children could enjoy the bouncy castle and slide, and the Scouts kept everyone well-fed with their barbecue.

The Mayor of Newbury David Harman and the mayoress Rosalind Harman also visited the festival, before handing out the prizes in the Wash Common Garden and Craft Show, which was also taking place in the cricket pavilion on the same day.

Tea and home-made cakes were in such demand too that the winning entry in the baking section of the show had to be sold off!

The garden and craft show, now in its 40th year, saw a more than 40 percent increase in entries from last year.

Christine Lewis took top prize once again in the garden produce section while in the baking and preserves section, Susan Wright emerged as the overall winner and held onto the Millenium Shield.

The craft section was hotly contested, with Joyce Pack finally coming out on top.

There were joint winners in two of the sections - Janet Anderson and Louise Peters won the Dr

Elizabeth Dyson Rose Bowl for flower arranging, while in the art and photography category Ray Wilton and Peter Wright achieved equal points.

Anna Tin won the Barnes Cup in the junior section and helped her mum and dad, Eleanor and Jim, pick up the Jean Bates Cup for the family with most points in the show.

There were also joint winners of the Mary Taylor cup for the Wash Common resident with most points in the show, with Christine Lewis and Peter Wright sharing the honours.