THOUSANDS of people have enjoyed an afternoon of music at the Stompin' on the Quomps despite the occasional downpour.

The popular jazz festival, now in its 23rd year, included performances from 10 different bands which had visitors clapping their hands and stompin’ their feet throughout the day.

Organisers said thousands of people had packed the event at Christchurch Quay and that they expected it to be a record year.

As well as the music visitors also enjoyed picnics on the grass, but there was a wealth of good food available from traders on the site and nearby eateries.

The highlight of this year’s festival was Sax player to the stars, Snake Davis. He was due to play Saturday evening.

Snake has performed and recorded with music legends including Ray Charles, James Brown, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, George Michael and Beyonce.

He also devised and played the distinctive sax solo on Take That’s smash hit ‘One Million Love Songs’.

Other highlights include singer Jacqui Hicks of popular British jazz-fusion group Shakatak, The Taverner’s Big Band and popular blues singer Zoe Schwarz with her band Blue Commotion.

Organiser Adrian Dwyer told the Echo: "It has been a fantastic event, and we have had record crowds this year despite the occasional downpour.

“Luckily the weather didn’t put anyone off, they just put up on their raincoats and put up their umbrellas.

“And later in the afternoon the sun started shining so we had a very good end to the event.

“This year one of the biggest crowd pleasers was Snake Davis – we know a lot of people came along to see him.”

Stompin’ on the Quomps is non-ticketed event, although the audience are invited to make a donation, and has grown from small beginnings with just a few people gathered around the bandstand, to its current status as one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country.