CROWDS enjoyed the sun, sounds and fun at Stratton Festival.

Thousands visited the Grange Leisure Centre for the annual fun day.

As well as showing England’s World Cup clash with Sweden, they enjoyed music, looking around emergency service vehicles and the chance to sit on a park ranger’s tractor.

Johanna Edwards, events officer at organisers Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, said of the festival: “I think it’s special because it really does bring the community together we have so many different local organisations and groups coming together they show how they can support the community.

“There are a lot of people who come and enjoy it as families and adults. We’ve been really lucky this year with the sunshine. It’s gone really well. Everyone’s worked really hard.

“Numbers are up. Normally we have 5,000 throughout the day. We’re doing well today. We’ve had really positive feedback.”

The festival was expected to raise hundreds of pounds for the parish chairman’s charity of the year, Swindon Young Carers.

Debbie Murphy-Myers of Swindon Carers Centre said: “Today is really about promoting what we do. We’ve had quite a few carers come along who are already registered with us, saying what a fantastic job we do. Then we had others, including a young lad of eight who came along and said he was a young carer.”

Donations from the event would help them offer support for different carers in the town. The Sanford Street-based charity runs young carer groups, schools awards and carers choirs.

Nicky Gilbert, 41, from Stratton, said: “We’re enjoying the weather, the beer, the music and obviously the football.”

Torin Clements, 19, of Stratton, had come with Star Wars enthusiasts from group the MK Garrison. Dressed as a Storm Trooper, he said: “It shows you can build a community spirit from it. The look on kids’ faces when they see their favourite character is quite impressive to see.”