POP star turned cheesemaker Alex James hailed the Big Feastival a huge success after an estimated 20,000 fans enjoyed a tasty mix of food and music.

After Mr James joined forces with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, thousands flocked to the festival at the Blur bass player’s farm in Kingham, west Oxfordshire.

Last year the star hosted music festival Harvest but Big Wheel Promotions, the company organising the event, collapsed, owing £57,000 to local firms.

This year, the focus was music and food, with Jamie Oliver the star attraction for foodies at the 200-acre dairy farm. Father-of-five Mr James said yesterday he was so pleased with the festival he wanted to stage it next year.

He said: “It’s been brilliant, amazing – a dream come true. I have been loving it and the crowds have been great.

“Bring it on next year.”

He added: “We have chefs, restaurants and food producers from near and far but ultimately this weekend is rooted in the local community.

“This corner of Oxfordshire has so much to offer, one of the reasons I love living here.”

The pair were given a big cheer on Saturday when they joined the band The Producers for a short set as the Food Lovin’ Criminals.

And Jamie Oliver drew a big crowd when he went on stage to show food lovers how he cooks pulled barbecue pork. They listened carefully as he told them: “Whenever meat comes out of heat, give it a rub with olive oil.”

Big Feastival spokesman Charleigh Skinner said 10,000 tickets were sold on Saturday, with a similar number coming through the gates yesterday.

She added: “It’s been a great weekend. The area in front of the stage was rammed when Paloma Faith was performing and it’s been a really good family-friendly atmosphere.

“Some children were still out there dancing at 10pm.”

Biochemist Steve Cochrane, 48, wife Giovanna, and their three daughters, Hannah, 15, Sophie, 14, and Isabelle, nine, travelled from Staines. Mr Cochrane said: “We love wholesome organic food and Sophie is a big Jamie fan. She was thrilled when he signed one of her books.”

Microsoft worker Matt Stallwood, 38, and wife Sarah, 34, brought their two daughters Emily, three, and Lucy, one, to enjoy a day out.

Mrs Stallwood said: “We hired a cottage in Churchill for a week and found out the festival was on. We’ve come for the food and Razorlight.”

Before sampling a bison burger, business journalist Ray Le Maistre, 48, from Epsom, Surrey, said the festival would provide good ‘brand awareness’ for stalls selling food and other goods.

Patrick Neale of Jaffé and Neale bookshop in Chipping Norton, said cookbooks had sold “like hot cakes.”