THEY were dancing, jigging and jiving in the Abbey Gardens, in Bury St Edmunds, on the opening night of Abbeyfest, yesterday.

Hundreds were entertained at the Rockney Road of Folk which featured headline acts Chas and Dave and The Dubliners.

But there was also superb support from the Kate Rusby Band, Nik Lowe and Rhys Butterworth-Bowman on a balmy night in the gardens at the start of the third annual three-day music extravaganza.

Charles Hodges, suitably dressed for a super summer evening in shorts and short-sleeved shirt, belted out many of the duo’s hits on his keyboard with his bass player David Peacock, in a rip-roaring 50-minute set.

It featured old time favourites including Margate, Gertcha, Rabbit, Snooker Loopy, Ain’t No Pleasing You and The Sideboard Song, to name but a few.

Their fans were in raptures clapping and stamping their feet in front of the stage as they pleaded for more. But the time curfew of 10.30pm meant they were restricted to performing an encore much to the disappointment of many who made a bee-line to the gardens, which were a wonderful setting for the occasion.

However, they left content in the knowledge that they had seen the iconic duo on stage belting out their familiar songs.

There was also a familiar ring to The Dubliners as four of the legendary group took to the stage.

They quickly had the audience onside with their easy listening and melodic numbers which included Black Velvet Band, Dirty Old Town, Irish Rover and Whiskey In The Jar.

Abbeyfest continues tonight with Chic C’Est Le Freak, Edwin Starr Band, George McCrae, Galaxy and Gwen Dickey and tomorrow with 10cc, T-Rextasy and Only One Direction.

It promosies to be a weekend to remember.