Soul and funk music lovers took to the field to enjoy a festival of food, beer and music at the weekend.

The Music In Wanstead Park 2014 event on Saturday, held by the Aldersbrook Families Association at Wanstead Park, welcomed more than 2,000 people, who also enjoyed sports events, a theatre show and the chance to get up close to snakes and owls.

Headline music act was rock band Payback, who were supported by the Wanstead Rock Choir, soul singer Natalie Duncan, the Iroko Theatre Cultural Jamboree, the Wanstead High School Big Band, Georgia & The Dales, East Collective and trombone player Richard Henry Sousaphone.

This year’s event also had a beer tent, Indian and Carribean food stalls, wall climbing and a football shoot-out.

Aldersbrook committee member Alan James, of Wanstead, said: “The day was absolutely brilliant, despite the slight rain at the start, the rest of the day was wonderful.”

Mr James’s wife Gill James organised the day of music and fun.

Mr James added: “They [the visitors] were really dancing - people were up and dancing up until nine’o’clock.

“It’s part of the community and it’s something that we like to do for the community.”