Next year's Cropredy Festival could be even bigger and better - to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the forming of Fairport Convention.

Planning has already begun for next year's event and one proposal is to expand the site's 23,500 capacity.

Wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of 20,000 fans, who went to pay homage to folk music in a north Oxfordshire field, in what has become known as 'the friendliest of festivals'.

The crowd waves flags while Amos Garrett plays on stage.

Despite opening with heavy rain on Thursday, the clouds stayed away for the other two days of the event. It only rained again as the campsites were emptying on Sunday morning.

Saturday's traditional grand finale saw event hosts Fairport Convention teaming up with many other great names in English folk music, including Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, for a stunning three-hour performance.

It was quite an achievement that the festival - the 27th - took place at all. The foot and mouth epidemic put a question-mark over the event until as late as May 1, when organisers Dave Pegg, Fairport's bass player, and his wife, Christine, took the decision to go ahead.

Fairport vocalist and guitarist Simon Nicol said: "We're delighted with how the festival went.

"The weather was as kind as we deserve, and Cropredy is always such a special time for everybody who cares about what Fairport is and does.

"It's wonderful to know that we can still come back here again next year after this appalling foot and mouth."

Before Fairport's performance, the crowd had been treated to a Who's Who of famous folk names.

Guests on the bill included skiffle pioneer Lonnie Donegan, singer-songwriter Steve Ashley, The Eliza Carthy Band, Irish traditionalists De Dannan and Vikki Clayton and friends.

Treats also included Musafir, who took their own brand of folk-inspired music from Rajasthan, and the big-band delights of Brass Monkey.