THOUSANDS of people enjoyed music, fun and sunshine at MOD Lyneham’s CivPop Festival.

Headline act Peter Andre wowed crowds of 4,000 people, who also danced and sang along to Baby-D, Urban Cookie Collective, Rozalla and Junnk.

A funfair on the site kept the children entertained throughout the day.

The non-profit event raised money for Julia’s House, SSAFA and the REME Charity, and was organised by volunteers from MOD Lyneham-based 8 Training Battalion REME.

Before the festival kicked off, the battalion welcomed 700 family members of soldiers for the Initial Trade Training Family Day.

The was an opportunity for trainees to show their visiting loved ones where they work, learn and relax on the military base.

The trainees attend the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME) at MOD Lyneham, which trains Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) soldiers, who are known as Craftsmen, in the eight trades used in REME and in military skills.

The aim of the day was to give the families an insight into the technical training at DSEME and the career opportunities available for REME Craftsmen – and also for them to see the living accommodation, welfare, medical and sporting facilities available at the army base.

Families watched a number of trade training demonstrations, including the metalsmiths using virtual welding equipment, recovery mechanics rescuing a stranded armoured vehicle, armourers displaying a wide range of rifles and pistols used by the army; and vehicle mechanics working on a variety of military vehicles.

Also on display were a tracked multiple rocket launcher and remote-control bomb disposal vehicles..

The School of Army Aeronautical Engineering also demonstrated simulator helicopters.