THE Pershore Midsummer Brass festival went off with a bang with visitors enjoying the music and the sun.

The annual event is a popular draw with more than 1,000 turning up on Saturday, July 21.

This year, 27 bands participated from 10am with performances at the medieval Abbey, methodist church and elsewhere.

Organisers say the festival was the biggest and best yet. It had more than 27 bands. Among the performances was a debut for the new West Mercia Police Youth Band.