FESTIVAL organisers and police have declared the 29th Wimborne Folk Festival a success.

An estimated 20,000 people flooded into the Minster town last weekend (12-14) for three days of traditional entertainment.

The event was policed over a 20-hour day from 8am to 4am by a staff of nearly 50, ranging from volunteers to the district's Section Commander, Inspector Mike Darkin.

"I haven't yet seen the data, but having worked one of the late shifts, I can tell you anecdotally that we had a very safe and happy festival," said Insp Darkin.

Only seven arrests were made throughout the weekend, with one assault and six "lower level disorder offences", with 22 crimes reported from the festival over the entire weekend.

Sgt Alan Setchell, who leads Wimborne town centre's safer neighbourhood team, said a total of only 22 crimes had been reported, with this year's arrest rate down by 42 per cent on the 2008 event.

Mr Setchell thanked all those who had worked to make the festival a success, including council staff and volunteers in the town's CCTV room.

Festival organiser Maria Bisp said conversations with people in the town had confirmed her perception that his year's event was the busiest ever with an estimated 20,000 people visiting the town.

Over 700 dancers and musicians performed on the Minster town's streets, she added, with performers from Dorset to Derbyshire displaying a range of styles from Appalachian dancing to English Morris.

Town mayor, Cllr John Burden, said the festival had been a huge success, and thanked East Dorset District Council (EDDC) for tidying up the town.