A RECORD breaking year was enjoyed by all who flocked to Northwich Festival during the Bank Holiday weekend.

The festival drew such large crowds on Monday that police were called out to deal with gridlock at the entrance to the Moss Farm venue.

Sam Naylor, from the organising committee, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic festival this year and Moss Farm on Monday was absolutely heaving.

“We broke all records on every day.”

The festival started with the second Cheshire Independent Living Awareness Day (CILAD) on Friday, which saw the marquee given over to exhibitors and entertainers highlighting how people with disabilities can live an independent life.

“This virtually doubled in size from the previous year with 70 companies and charities exhibiting,” Sam said.

A casino night with Rat Pack and Michael Bublé singer Andrew James was held on Friday evening before a gloomy Saturday dawned with a 70-strong classic motorcycle show and 11 teams battling it out in a women’s rugby tournament.

Sam said: “It’s fair to say that Saturday wasn’t as busy on the motorbike side of things because it looked like it was going to rain, but we had about 70 bikes in the show and about 600 bikers came.

“We were pleased with it as a first attempt and we can expand on it for next year.”

Live music took over on Saturday night when Northwich bands Beaver and Cheeky Monkey took to the stage in front of a sell-out crowd.

Sunday was music festival day at the site then a mini heatwave brought out visitors in their droves on Monday for the biggest day of the four-day event.

“I have never seen Moss Farm as full as it was on Monday,” Sam said.

“We had a massive classic car show, every kind of entertainment, it was absolutely chocka.”

Monday’s Northwich Strong Man competition went down a storm, with 21-year-old James Elliot and 33-year-old Jake Smith drawing for first place and Ged O’Hara winning second place.

Sam also praised volunteers from the Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal and helpers from 1874 Northwich, who carried out a big clean-up of the site after Saturday night’s festivities.

“Massive thanks go to 1874 and to the Rotary Club and to all our sponsors, who are too numerous to mention,” he said.

“We don’t know how much we’ve made yet but a proportion of the profits will be reinvested in next year’s event – that will be the 30th festival so we’re really going to go for it.”