A FEW rain showers on Saturday did nothing to deter music fans from making the first ever two-day Mappfest free music festival a great success.

And the show ended in spectacular fashion with the RAF's legendary Red Arrows display team streaking across the sky above Malvern Link Common as the festival came to a close early on Sunday evening.

The weekend was a triumph for organiser Andy Mapp, who has been putting on free festivals for several years, each time bigger and better than the last.

He said on Monday morning: "I'm absolutely cream-crackered but it was worth it. I don't know how much money was raised, but it will be at least double last year's figure."

Proceeds for the festival will go to Acorns Children's Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Mr Mapp said that part of the reason for the festival's success is that everyone gives their services for free.

He said: "The bands all perform for free, the PA system and the power supplies are all donated, and everyone who sets it up and makes it happen is a volunteer. We're especially grateful to Coltec Elemental and Floating Lotus for the solar power supply."

Music fans this year enjoyed sets by performers including Ronin, Slack Granny, Black Russian and many more.

Mr Mapp said one of the personal highlights for him was the performance by Miss Pearl and the Rough Diamonds, whose guitarist Steve Hurrell lost his son Andy - also a musician - to motor neurone disease, just weeks before.

"It was because of Andy that we decided to donate half the proceeds to the MND Association, so in a sense this year's Mapp Fest is dedicated to him."

He said that rain on Saturday didn't affect the event at all. "It was just a couple of showers, and the sun came out immediately and dried it off, so it wasn't a problem," he said.

As well as music, festival goers could enjoy a variety of stalls and games, an international selection of food and drink, including Indian and Mediterranean food, and a special Mapp Fest ale brewed by the Friday Beer Company.