A CELEBRATION of beer, music and historic steam engines starts in Wallingford today.

The three-day BunkFest festival is now in its 11th year and hundreds of different acts will perform at 20 venues around the town including The Kinecroft.

About 20,000 people are expected to turn up – giving traders hotels and restaurants a £1m boost, organisers have estimated.

Acts performing at the festival include Warsaw Village Band, Edward II and Oysterband.

Festival spokesman Dave Newson said: “From this afternoon there will be lots of people gathering in the beer tent on The Kinecroft and we are looking forward to a very busy festival.

“Wallingford BunkFest is a unique, family friendly celebration with something for everyone.

“There will be concerts, dance displays, ceilidhs, and music in the pubs, on river boats and steam trains.

“Over a thousand performers will be staging about 200 performances during the three days at about 20 different venues.

“Once again all events are free, except for those on boats, trains, or at the late-night festival club.

“Any donations to secure the future of the festival will be very welcome.”

A special Bunkfest shuttle bus service will be operating from today until Sunday during the town’s annual celebration of music, dance and steam trains.

See thames-travel.co.uk and bunkfest.co.uk