This year’s Exmouth Festival appears to have broken all attendance records.

Exmouth Journal: Toyah Willcox at the Exmouth Festival 2017. Picture: Jason Sedgemore.Toyah Willcox at the Exmouth Festival 2017. Picture: Jason Sedgemore. (Image: Archant)

However despite record crowds, donations are still desperately needed to ensure that the town’s free festival continues next year.

Warm weather on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 brought large crowds out on to the Imperial Rec’ Ground to see musical acts including Noble Jacks, The Locked Horns, Mr Tea and the Minions and Talisman.

But that was nothing compared to the huge crowd that turned up to see the concert on Sunday, May 28, which featured local reggae band The Barefoot Bandit, covers band Joey the Lips and headliner 1980s punk princess Toyah Willcox.

Estimates vary, but it’s possible that the show may have attracted more than 6,000 people.

Despite the huge audience, crowd funding is still thought to be quite low.

The nine-day festival may have finished but the Crowdfunder online page is showing that only £274 had been raised towards the £10,000 target.

“As you are all aware, it’s free admission to the Exmouth Festival and we really want to keep it that way,” said the festival organisers on their Facebook page. “But in order for us to do that, we need your help!

“Please, can all visitors kindly make a small donation to our crowd funder page. Every little helps!”

Cash donations to the collecting buckets at the festival sites will have helped the festival to reach its target.

“For me, the festival has never been about making a profit,” said Exmouth arts manager and festival organiser Carla Hiley. “Our aim is to break even with enough money for the following year to be as good if not better than the last.”

To donate to the Exmouth Festival, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/exmouth-festival