A scorching hot summer's day sealed the success of this year's East Finchley Festival.

There were still hundreds of people in the park at 6pm when the festival in Cherry Tree Wood was due to close. The crowd in front of the main stage called for another song from headline band Fat Man Kicks Cat, who duly obliged with another polished jazzy, funky, soulful number.

An hour earlier, Antigua Joe had been singing and playing Island in the Sun on his guitar on the second stage, in front of the final of the under-11s five-a-side competition which saw teams from the Old Barn after school club in East Finchley come first and second.

Elsewhere, children enjoyed the fairground rides and games, face-painting, and a bouncy castle, while the adults appreciated the beer tent.

"It was brilliant," said organiser Colin Rogers. "People were telling me there seemed to be a record attendance. Probably 6,000 over the course of the day."

Dr Rudi Vis MP had been due to present the raffle prizes, but at the last minute had to catch the train to Strasbourg as part of his parliamentary duties. His replacement, East Finchley Councillor Phil Yeoman, presented one lucky festival-goer with a House of

Commons bottle of whisky signed by Tony Blair.

Tracey Wye