WHERSTEAD: Amazing music, cheeky comedy and footballing fun greeted revellers as they soaked up the spring sunshine at Vest-ival.

The day-long event held at Jimmy’s Farm in Wherstead on Saturday featured headliners Toploader and Annie Mac among a host of bands and performers at the vest-themed day.

But visitors were there for more than just the music – footballers Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby led the crowds there to see the FA Cup, which made a rare appearance at the festival and was the subject of countless fans’ photos.

And the ex-Canaries players even got involved in a five-a-side game to celebrate the spirit of the day, which was raising money for Football Action, a charity which works with schools and groups in the poorest parts of the world to build pitches, provide footballs kits and equipment, and partner charity Hanna’s Orphanage, which helps vulnerable children in Ethiopia.

Dion Dublin told The Evening Star: “This is a really important cause.

“Football is a language that everybody can speak – everybody can play it and love it.

“So this is helping fund pitches and areas to play the game, and helping people buy equipment like lawnmowers that we’ve probably all got in our sheds, but aren’t as easy for them to come by.

“I think Jimmy has done a good thing in allowing people on to his land – the food is absolutely first class, and I hope the day continues to get bigger and bigger.”

Comedy from Tom Rosenthal of Channel Four’s Friday Night Dinner fame proved a hit with the audience as they perched on the edge of the hay bales arranged around a makeshift stage.

There were a few unusual sights on offer too, including revellers trying their hand at playing Dublin’s self-designed percussion instrument, the Dube.

And due to popular demand, the ex-footballer even appeared on stage to play the instrument, accompanying Toploader as they sang their best-known hit, Dancing in the Moonlight.

Starsailor’s lead singer James Walsh was also there to entertain the crowds, with group hits Four to the Floor and Silence is Easy proving popular with the audience, although the performer also took the chance to try out some of his new solo material.

And campers rounded up a chilled out festival by dancing the night away to the sounds of Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, who brought the show to a close.

n Were you there? What did you make of Vest-ival? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.