THE third Town Park Festival attracted a large crowd to Alton’s Public Gardens on Saturday for a bonanza of music, entertainment and fun.

It even featured a laser interaction game set up by Butterfield Storm which proved a big hit with children and adults alike who battled it out with laser guns.

Throughout the day there was a background of sound with a number of bands taking to the stage, giving them a chance to show off their music and arrangements to an appreciative audience.

The craft stalls were very popular and there was also a variety of other stalls with the homemade cakes selling out early in the day.

Organiser Sandie said of the event run by the Earp family: “Our stall was run by my two daughters, Trixie and Beth, and most of the cakes were made by Beth, who has a reputation as a superb cake maker.”

The festival aims to raise funds for the Rhiannon Trust, set up in memory of another of Peter and Sandie’s daughters, Rhiannon, who was handicapped and died five years ago aged 15.

There were also lots of fun things for the children at the festival, including a bouncy castle and plenty of ice cream and refreshments.

“We had a fantastic day,” said Sandie. “The weather was perfect and it was a busy time but worth it. We didn’t charge an entrance fee, which makes it less expensive for those with families, and people could just come in and enjoy what was going on even if they didn’t particularly want to buy anything. It was nice to welcome everyone.”

Sandie added that so far the festival had raised £1,800 but there was more money to come in which will help buy equipment for handicapped children.

“We have already been able to supply two local schools with equipment and, as a family, we are so pleased to be doing something so positive for Rhiannon.”

Beth, she added, would also be making the cakes for their stall at the town’s Yuletide Festival in December.