WELSHPOOL Country and Western Festival drew a massive crowd, including heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, to have another outstanding year.

The festival returned to Powis Castle Showground from Friday, July 14, to Sunday, July 16, and had already covered its costs by the Friday evening.

Rozanne Corfield, deputy chair of the organising committee, said: “We think we have made over £20,000. This probably would have been more but we invested in some more backdrops.

“The Castle Bells came and opened the show. They absolutely went down a storm.”

The festival is in support of the Heulwen Trust, which requires £30,000 to operate each year to operate its unique canal boat service. Adding to the funds, the Dollies running club also donated a further £102.

Organiser Stewart Charman said: “The weather was fantastic, I am singed all over.”

The event once again saw top country and western acts return to Welshpool.

Mr Charman added: “We’ve had a Kenny Rogers tribute artist on the main stage and the Henry Smith Band. Amy Westney was crazy busy so was Harper’s Ferry.

“We have had loads of feedback that a lot of people came for the first time and couldn’t wait to see who is returning or performing next year.

“Thanks have got to go to the committee and all the volunteers who came along.

“And thank you to everyone who did their own little bit, there are too many people to name individually I couldn’t possibly single any of them out, they were all great.”

The festival is now in its 30th year and this was marked with a special presentation to Rozanne and David Corfield, vice chair and chair respectively.

Sending her thanks, Mrs Corfield said: “I would like to express thanks to all our fantastic volunteers.

“Without the volunteers we couldn’t function.”

Pictures by County Times photographer Mike Sheridan.