An annual steam fair provided the “fun factor” at the weekend.

The Comet: Abacus perform on stageAbacus perform on stage (Image: Archant)

The 12th annual Steam Fair and Country Show took place at Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve on Saturday and Sunday with young and old taking advantage of the packed programme of events.

The Comet: Mike Turner polishes an engineMike Turner polishes an engine (Image: Archant)

Visitors were given the chance to admire the Saunders family’s working steam collection, experience the thrill of the helter-skelter featured on ITV television drama Downton Abbey and look around the mill.

There was also a free kids’ zone which included a bouncy castle and gladiator joust, and bands playing across the weekend.

Christine Smith, events and marketing trustee for Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve, said: “All in all it was an excellent and very busy weekend. We had 6,000 people across the two days, which was slightly down on last year due to the bad weather, but we still made a profit. It was very unfortunate that the two Battle of Britain memorial flights didn’t go ahead, but the Roman re-enactment event was fantastic and the free kids’ zone was very successful.”

Major events organiser Pam Peacock added: “The Essex Dog Display Team were really popular as usual and I also think the traditional maypole stood out. I think this year’s festival had more of the fun factor and appealed to all ages with a really impressive programme of events.

“One of the highlights was the Saturday evening when we had more than 500 people watching Indi and the Vegas and Nadeem Leigh from last year’s The Voice competition, which for little, old Stotfold is amazing. There were kids and grandparents there which was fantastic. We had similar numbers for Rockface at Live at the Mill the night before.

“The weekend takes a year to organise so preparations are already underway for 2015!”

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