THE Mayor of West Devon was among those who impressed the crowds who went along to the three-day Dartmoor Folk Festival held at South Zeal, near Okehampton, during the weekend of August 9-11.

Cllr Bill Cann, who performed the official opening of the festival, also got up on an old hay wagon to give an impromptu demonstration of his Dartmoor Step Dancing skills.

Mr Cann put in an admirable performance on the 15 inch square board on top of the wagon, performing most of the required dance steps, despite admitting he had not performed the dance for more than 25 years!

In his opening speech he said he was especially proud that his late uncle, Bob Cann, was the founder of the festival 36 years ago and commented on the huge success of the event, now continued by members of his family, friends, and Association and volunteer helpers.

He assisted his Auntie Joyce, Bob's wife, in presenting the Dartmoor Step Dance awards.

The champion was, for the fourth year, Lisa Sture of Bideford.  Junior champion was Laura Bazeley (15) of South Zeal.

The Dartmoor Broom Dance champion was Albert Hansell (10) from Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Traditional music, dance, song and crafts of the area form the basis for the festival.

One of the country's finest multi-instrumentalists, Jim Moray, 'kicked off' the event with a concert on the Friday evening followed by a ceilidh with the Dartmoor Pixie Band.

The rest of the weekend included a packed programme of concerts, a ramble on Dartmoor, folk service, dances, children's festival, Dartmoor Fayre, music hall, pub sessions and music and song and dance workshops.

Festival spokesman, Alan Quick, said: 'It has been a tremendous festival with a record attendance. 

'Last year people stayed in to watch the Olympics on the television but this year they came along again and it is a remarkable difference.'

Mr Quick said the family-friendly festival, as well as giving enjoyment to thousands, provided a huge economic boost to the area with shops, pubs, bed and breakfast establishments, suppliers and exhibitors generating thousands of pounds into the local economy.