Last updated at 20:57, Thursday, 04 August 2011

“The best yet” was how many fans described last weekend’s annual Maryport Blues Festival.

• VIDEO: Highlights from the main marquee

RELATED: Blogging the blues 2011

Blessed by glorious sunshine, the event drew large crowds and gave a welcome boost to local businesses.

The event’s organisers are still counting their receipts after it was estimated that at least 3,000 people attended.

At the Crown Inn, in Senhouse Street, security staff said they spent much of Saturday letting people in on a “two out, two in” basis because the pub was so full.

The town’s Co-operative and Heron Foods were busy with campers stocking up on supplies. Food and Drink, Star Bargains, Maryport News and the Factory Shop were exceptionally busy on Saturday.

It also proved a good weekend for Lillie-Mai Jackson, the Maryport baby who lost her legs and an arm after contracting meningitis, as her parents, grandmother and friends held a collection that raised £2,330.45 to help support her.

Festival chairman Dave Park said: “We had a great audience in the marquee and I don’t think the Shipping Brow stage was missed as much as we feared.

“We have to make business decisions, as we did with the free stage, if the festival is to continue in Maryport.

“Perhaps we need some new blood on the committee, too, and we will work with anyone who wants to keep the blues here.”

There was some controversy before the festival when the event’s committee announced there would be no free stage on Shipping Brow because of police costs and health and safety issues.

A group called the Solway Trust, which was formed in response and over its concern for the future of other town events, said that more than 400 people paid £1 to join the trust over the weekend.

This week the group released a statement to emphasise that its aim was to organise regular monthly events to raise funds to support local causes and charities, culminating in a large annual event that will take place throughout the town over a weekend period.

The statement added: “This will generate much needed revenue for local businesses and create more employment opportunities for the residents of Maryport.”

First published at 17:23, Thursday, 04 August 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk