CROWDS bopped, jigged and tapped their feet to the rhythms at Alresford’s first music extravaganza last Saturday.

It was a welcome site for organisers — a lack of finances had threatened to scupper the event. But it proved a hit with the townsfolk, who came in their hundreds to support the showcase.

Parents lazed in front of the main stage enjoying the likes of Winchester band Polly and the Billet Doux. Elsewhere, teenagers gathered to enthusiastically support their Perins School classmates, some of whom performed on the smaller Pixel Scene Stage.

One such performer was Phil Fleming, one of Perins School’s brightest prospects.

The 14-year-old, of New Farm Road, who made her stage debut, said: “I’m so grateful for this opportunity, I have never done anything like this before.

“It was brilliant, I definitely want to do it again now. I was not nervous, it was a really good crowd so I was just excited.”

Organiser Ken Veitch, whose band Rattlewreck went down well with crowds, said: “The highlight for me was watching the youngsters on the Pixel Scene Stage playing for the first time and seeing their faces.”

Annette Seth-Smith, 48, of Winton Close, Winchester, said: “I came because I wanted to support a local event. “It’s been a great day — the sun has been shining and there has been some fantastic music. I think Rattlewreck were the best, they had people up dancing.”

Jim Teehan, of Jacklyns Lane, Alresford, said: “I think it’s been excellent. “There was a lovely family atmosphere and a great mix of adults, kids and teenagers and people had a good time.

“I hope they do it again next year.”

Winchester MP Steve Brine, who took his family along, said: “This country now has hundreds of small, independent festivals taking place every summer and it’s great to have Alresford on that list.

“I’ve been to many festivals year after year, and seen how they grow and improve each time. I just love them.

“The Alresford Music Festival team deserve huge credit for getting it off the ground, and I look forward to working with them in future years.”

Festival organiser Stuart McCullouch said 900 adults and 200 under-12s attended.

He added: “We thought it went absolutely brilliant.

“We were lucky with the weather, but it went so well as a first event that we’re obviously buoyed up and looking forward to the next one.”

Last Saturday’s event hosted the world’s smallest solar-powered cinema — contained within a caravan with seating for eight adults.

Organised by the Alresford Greening Campaign, the cinema screened films, cartoons and animations with an environmental theme and attracted more than 350 customers.

Sgt Amanda Smith, of Alresford police station, said: “There were no public order-related offences at the festival.

“Two of my team attended in a community capacity and were very positive about it — it was very well organised and the entertainment very good.”