CROWDS packed out the Elder Stubbs allotments in East Oxford on Saturday as Restore’s annual festival took on a Wild West theme.

The Elder Stubbs Festival, which raises awareness of charity Restore and of mental health issues, returned for its 24th year and was as big a hit as ever.

This year’s event saw mental health awareness films screened for the first time and camera crews spread out across the Rymer’s Lane site to film people as they told their stories of mental illness.

Restore employee Fiona Walker said she was always overwhelmed by the support the event received from people in Oxford.

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She said: “I have been working for Restore for five years but because I grew up in East Oxford I came to Elder Stubbs a lot before then.

“Lots of people have come for the day to help and have donated their time, which is amazing.

“We have a lot of community stalls and organisations such as the Green Party and Oxfam, as well as national organisations connected with mental health.”

Restore, based in Manzil Way, East Oxford, was founded 34 years ago and works with about 20 people who suffer from mental health problems on a day-to-day basis at the Elder Stubbs allotments.

They are encouraged to work on the charity’s vegetable patch and they can cook the produce they grow in Restore’s cafe.

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Isaac Leeson, eight, left, who visited the festival with his brother, Otis, four

The festival featured live music from acts including Raw Materials, Honolulu Cowboys and Music in Mind.

Many of the artists performing have suffered from mental health problems.

Lucy Hill was at the festival to perform with her band Meridian.

The 28-year-old said: “I think the best part of Elder Stubbs is everybody coming together and supporting mental health.

“It is a really good atmosphere with lots of different stuff going on and people from different backgrounds and from different areas of Oxford, which makes it really good.

“It is so important to raise awareness and just have a really good, fun day together.”

The Wild West theme for this year’s event included cut-out cowboys which people could pose with installed among the allotments.

Isaac Leeson, eight, and his brother Otis, four, were among those who enjoyed getting their photos taken at the cut-outs.

Isaac said: “My favourite part of the day was the wanted poster I was able to stick my head through.

“We came last year and I really enjoyed it as well.”

Mum Catherine said: “This is the second year we have been, we were invited by a friend and enjoyed it so much we came back.

“It is a really good day and a lovely atmosphere.”

Lord Mayor of Oxford Rae Humberstone went along to the allotments to officially open the festival, which ran from midday until 6pm.

He said: “It is the first year I have been. I had known it was one of those little gems in Oxford but I had never made it before.

“It is fantastic, it cannot be faulted, it is just what the doctor ordered.

“It is good to get down here. You feel relaxed and you can see the benefits it has for people with mental health issues."