FOR the third successive year, the Public Gardens in Alton has reverberated to the sounds and sights of ACAfest - the annual free family music festival.

And it didn’t disappoint as visitors to the musical brainchild of the Alton Community Association sizzled under sweltering skies on Saturday.

Featuring music as diverse as ukulele bands and rock bands performing cover versions, the festival had something for everyone, while The Ladies in Red took everyone back to the 1940s and 1950s with their medley of wartime favourites.

There was refreshment aplenty on a sun-kissed day, with the beer tent and the ‘boozy tombola’ doing a roaring trade, while festival folk enjoyed sauntering around the Public Gardens simply enjoyed soaking up the sun and the festival atmosphere or finding a shady spot to listen to the music.

All the while, children could choose their own face-painting designs or spend their pocket money on the soft toy tombola.

A festival spokesman said: “We hold the ACAfest to not only raise funds for the (community) centre but to raise awareness of what we do, especially our playgroup where we are now taking youngsters from 18 months.”

The playgroup this year celebrates its 40th anniversary and will hold coffee mornings on August 13 and August 20 to mark the occasion, from 10.30am to noon on both days.