Last updated 16:04, Wednesday, 06 August 2008

HUNDREDS of music fans flocked to the B-Fest gathering in Eskdale at the weekend.

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chilling out: The crowd enjoy the weekend

The two-day event at the Bower House Inn, which raises money for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team and Gosforth First Responders, saw more than 20 local bands perform on two stages behind the hotel.

Around 1,500 people travelled from far and wide to attend the event, organised by hotel owner Chris Webb, whose life was saved by the First Responders.

He got first-hand experience of the invaluable role they play when he suffered a heart attack in 2003 — and their volunteers were first on the scene to help him.

Proceeds are still being counted but it is thought the event, now in its fourth year, will have made thousands of pounds for the charities.

Billed as a family festival, youngsters could get their face painted and were entertained by Nicky Flash, who appeared on ITV show Britain’s Got Talent and couldn’t get out of a duvet.

The weather stayed mostly fine for the event and the only low spot was a disturbance in the dance tent on Saturday night.

Organisers stressed it was only a minority of people who were involved but the tent was closed. They made the decision that the dance tent will be replaced by an acoustic tent next year.