THOUSANDS of people descended on Worcester Racecourse for their first Oktoberfest.

The two-day festival taking inspiration from the popular German event came to the city for the first time bringing with it the famous Bavarian oompah bands, steins and sausages.

Martin Barker, event director said: “For a first year it has gone very well.

“Friday night was very successful and we were sold out for the Saturday evening session.

“I would like to think we will be back next year.

“The racecourse have been really good to work with."

There were complaints from visitors about the festival being too expensive and the lack of seating.

Alex Moore, a Worcester News reader said: "They need to sack their researchers and planners. Nothing about tonight was an Oktoberfest experience, it was all about money and nothing else."

Chris Kyte added: "Very expensive, not enough seats, apparently there was a band playing but all I could hear was a muffled noise.

"Dreadful experience and nothing like an Oktoberfest."

However, Helen Mullen said: "We enjoyed it. Expensive at £11 for a stein/2 pints and £35 for a bottle of Prosecco.

"It is what you make it. Maybe it isn’t exactly like Oktoberfest, but, we are in Worcester, not Munich."

Throughout the day, bands performed on the stage in a huge tent holding thousands of people, with traditional German style tables.

Around 30,000 litres of beer were brought in from one of the world’s oldest breweries, ABK.

Mr Barker believes that between 5,000 and 7,000 revellers visited over the weekend.