FESTIVAL goers enjoyed a real song and dance as Burnley's Reach 1 Festival was declared a resounding success.

Organisers estimate around 8,000 people lapped up the sunshine at the event in Queen's Park yesterday. As well as music, the festival, organised by Burnley Council, Burnley College and Mid-Pennine Arts, aimed to bring people together and encourage communities to find out more about each other.

Mick Cartledge, Burnley Council's director of community and leisure services, said: "I thought it was a brilliant day. It proved the benefits of organisations working together. We would not have had such a brilliant range of activities if Mid Pennine Arts and Burnley College had not been involved.

"I would like to thank everyone for their hard work in making the Reach 1 Burnley Festival such an enjoyable day."

A spokesman for Burnley police said: "The festival is usually a light-hearted affair so we were not expecting any trouble and it seems to have passed without incident."

Acts on the main stage included rock band Stonefish, American singer-songwriter Melissa Zeimer and traditional piper Mick Daley.

The second stage was dedicated to local bands, the music marquee featured well-known local DJs, as well as rap and graffiti art workshops, and the dance marquee hosted acts including the Hindu Dance Company and Ceilidh band, The Fumbling Fingers.

As well as music and dancing, there was also an arts and crafts marquee offering a mixture of displays and practical demonstrations. There were also poetry and prose readings by local people and guests.

The Daneshouse Trust Marquee hosted face-painting, sari dressing and henna painting, and there was a woodland festival in the park, including chainsaw sculpture, willow-weaving and wood-carving.