FOLK music was the star draw in South Zeal last weekend as

fans of traditional music and dance gathered to enjoy the 27th Dartmoor Folk Festival.

Among headline performers at this year?s festival were the Amazing Mr Smith, John Spiers and Jon Boden and Taffy Thomas.

Other highlights of the weekend included the Dartmoor Step Dance and Broom Dance Championships, a Dartmoor Fayre, celidh, music workshops, children?s entertainment and a Sunday morning moorland ramble.

The event follows on from the prestigious international folk festivals at Sidmouth and Cambridge, which means many folk artists and enthusiasts go directly to South Zeal.

The popular broomdance competition was won by a local lad, Hugh Clark, aged nine, of Ford Farm, South Zeal.

Hugh was only the third boy to win the competition in the 27 years the festival has been held.

Ford Farm was a former home of the founder of the festival, the late Bob Cann, who had the idea to start a folk festival to help revive and preserve the traditions of Dartmoor and, in particular, the traditional music, dance, song and crafts of the area.

Mr Cann received the British Empire Medal for his services to folk music before his death in 1990.

The stepdance competition involves dancers trying to outstep one another on a 15-inch square board, to win a place in the final held on an old hay wagon.

The adult winner was Jenny Read, of Heavitree, Exeter, who won the same title two years ago. Junior winner was Mary Huxham, 11, of Starcross, Exeter, who was also last year?s winner ? both are members of the Exeter-based percussion dance team Firestone.

More than a dozen dance teams provided a colourful spectacle for visitors, with some of the teams also dancing in Okehampton and the Finch Foundry at Sticklepath.

The festival was used to launch a new CD entitled ?Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all? which features folk songs sung in the West Country with Bob Cann singing Widdecombe Fair, Tavistock Goosey Fair and other tracks.

Honoured guests at the festival included Dartmoor National Park Authority chairman Cllr Bill Cann and the mayor of West Devon Cllr Christine Grills.

Festival chairman Jason Rice said it had been an ?excellent weekend?. ?The attendance was good at all of the events and everyone had a great time. It all went very well and is a credit to the association of members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.?

Festival press officer Alan Quick, said the future of the festival ?could not be brighter? as careful planning and prudence had ensured the event would be here for years to come.

The dates of next year?s festival have been announced as August 5, 6 and 7 and further details can be found on http://www.dartmoorfolk">www.dartmoorfolk

festival.co.uk