THOUSANDS of people were feeling the heat along with the beat at the Cornbury festival as temperatures soared as high as 28C.

Headlining the festival at Great Tew Park, near Enstone, were Squeeze, Keane and Van Morrison.

Festival organiser Hugh Phillimore said around 16,000 people turned up on Saturday and Sunday and 14,000 on Friday, aided by the good weather.

He said: “The weather has been unbelievable, I think we’ve got some of Glastonbury’s good weather.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the festival, it’s been fantastic.

Mr Phillimore said he particularly enjoyed Squeeze’s headline set on Friday.

Famous faces at the festival included Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear and Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron who was spotted with his wife Samantha and their three children, Nancy, Arthur and Florence.

The festival, now in its 10th year, introduced an expanded children’s area and a new literary event – the Festival of Words, which featured Alan Davies, Katy Brand and Julie Burchill among those taking part.

Among performers to praise the festival was Keane’s singer Tom Chaplin, who said: “This is a lovely festival.

“It started at about the same time as we did and it’s been great to see it go from strength to strength.”

Mr Phillimore said there are no plans to expand the festival next year.

“We think we’ve got just the right formula,” he said.

Heather Hawkins, from Shrivenham, near Faringdon, said: “It’s absolutely fabulous for families. Everyone is so chilled out and the weather has been great too.”

Her daughter, Amelie, seven, said: “I really like the bubble tent, it’s been really fun to chop them up.

“The bubbles are big and I think it’s been my favourite part.”

Other big music names included Echo And The Bunnymen, The Proclaimers and Bellowhead.

A comedy emporium hosted by Absolute Radio and Ed Gamble was also on offer, as well as a kids’ zone and two other music stages.

Among the Oxfordshire bands at the festival were Black Hats and Alphabet Backwards.

  • For more festival pictures, go to oxfordmail.co.uk/ news/pictures/picture_galleries/cornbury2012/?ref=gp