MUSIC lovers who attended Kinver's recent festival helped raise hundreds of pounds for local charities.

The three day music festival is believed to have attracted well over 1,000 visitors to the village making the event a huge success.

But organisers already believe the event needs a rethink over the format as Saturday's ticket-only concert failed to attract the crowds expected.

The event, which was organised jointly by Kinver Music and Kinver Rotary provided free music on the Friday and Sunday which proved hugely popular with local pubs and at Dunsley Hall Hotel, which enjoyed a full house throughout Sunday.

Visitors were treated to performances from artists including Beth Sherburn, Dan Greenaway, the Rock Choir and harpist Helen Barley.

The Saturday concerts which were staged at church halls, schools and the KSCA comprised of appearances from the West Midlands Fire Service Band, Wild Irish, the Gentlemen Songsters an accordion duo from Ukraine and the sounds of KYIV followed by a firework display on the Marsh Playing Fields.

Roy Sanders, who represents Kinver Rotary, said: “We would have liked a few more people on the Saturday, but we were in competition with a number of other events within close location.

“It might be we have to look at the date for next year's event as we're in no doubt the music festival will continue.

“Had it been a different date, then it might have been a different story, but we couldn't have done anymore to promote the event and everyone who appeared was excellent and it's a shame there wasn't more people to see them.

“We estimate to have made between £1500 to £2,000 which will be donated between Mary Stevens Hospice, Acorns Children's Hospice and the village's Chernobyl Children's Charity.

“Overall, we achieved what we set out to. The event made money, attracted people to the village and helped make Kinver a more vibrant place.”