THOUSANDS of music fans turned out to enjoy Watchet Music Festival which celebrated its ninth year in style this bank holiday weekend.

An eclectic mix of headline acts wowed the crowds including the Boomtown Rats, BBC Folk Award winner Seth Lakeman, The Wurzels and Big Country.

The rain held off until the Sunday night for the sold out festival held at Passonage Farm which attracts a high calibre of acts to West Somerset.

On Friday night The Blow Monkeys and renowned ska band The Selecter got the crowd grooving with terrific sets.

Saturday saw punk heroes The Boomtown Rats on the main stage with Bob Geldof stealing the show with a performance full of swagger.

The Irish band pumped up the crowds and got them singing their hearts out to hits like 'I Don't Like Mondays' and 'Rat Trap'.

The Wurzels once again were a highlight in the Sunday afternoon slot with great sing-a-long hits like 'I've got a Brand New Combine Harvester' and a special rendition of the Kaiser Chiefs no.1 hit 'Ruby'.

They were followed by joyful seven-piece jive band Company B performing in their signature vintage army uniforms.

Next up multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Seth Lakeman impressed the audience with his brand of folk, before veteran Scottish rockers Big Country finished off the festival in style.

Jackie Bale, who organises the festival with her husband Mark, said that it had been another fantastic year.

"A lot of our festival peers look at our line-up and think 'You must be mad!' but it seems to work for Watchet," Jackie said.

"The festival has been getting bigger year-on-year but it is a controlled growth. We want it to be manageable and safe for families to come."

Jackie and Mark work with Watchet CIC to make the festival affordable in comparison with some of the bigger, more commercial cousins and believes that is why people come back year-on-year.

"Its started on a very small scale, but has escalated massively. Mark and I often describe it as a hobby that has gone out of hand!," Jackie said.

"We have already started making enquiries about some bands for next year. I can't say too much, but its the tenth anniversary and we want it to be the best one yet!"