BLAZING sunshine greeted this year's annual Widstock music festival.

Up to 500 people saw the free concert in Victoria Park, Widnes.

Organiser and local music scene guru Pete Bentham said: "All the bands went down really well.

"The weather was brilliant, and there were lots of kids activities like face painting and wall climbing, and the Galligu theatre company put on a performances."

Young local bands like High Koala and Kamikaze kicked off the day, before the main acts came on.

Sets followed from Voo, Stig and Lovecraft. 28 Costumes, featuring former blind Lemons singer Chris Palmer, came on in full black suits despite temperatures in the 90s.

Punky Liverpool group Flamingo 50s turn saw singer Louise dive into the moshing crowd of skateboarders - but they moved out the way in time!

Local music fan Colin Birch of Fairfield Road, commented: "Greg Oldfield was in good, passionate form. I felt Sparx suited the afternoon perfectly with the sunny weather, better than all that punk stuff."

His wife, Janet, said: "It was a really nice atmosphere with a lot of very well behaved young people with a good musical mix. And the gazebo was keeping off the sun rather than the rain for a change!"