CROWDS are growing in Chippenham and the sound of bells are echoing through the town on the fourth and final day of Chippenham Folk Festival.

Thousands of people have descended upon the town to enjoy a bank holiday full of folk music and dancing, whether they have come for all four days, for one day, or have stumbled across Morris Dancers pulling in the crowds to join in while they do a spot of shopping.

The threat of rain today certainly hasn’t put anyone off as crowds line the high street watching Morris Dancers, listen to live bands play across a multitude of venues and take part in a variety of workshops which have been running since Friday.

Over 200 events in 14 different venues have been held since Friday (May 25).

Val Revell and her husband Roger came from Bristol for the day. Mrs Revell, said: “Several times we have been to the festival, for several reasons. We like the Irish music session in the pub so we come up for the lunch time session. I play the Bodhran and Roger plays the tenor banjo and the melodian. It is a really good session and we get to play with people we don’t normally play with in Bristol.

“We are also here because we are always looking out for new music instruments.”

In the high street, dancing groups have been cheered on by the crowds as they show off their moves. But one group in particular has been getting the audience up and dancing with them. Group Wild Thyme get people of all ages and abilities dressed up as they learn the basics of Morris Dancing and get to have a go themselves.

Leader of the group, Sue White, said: “We started in 2008. There is a lot of dancing that goes on here and thousands of people come. We do displays but anyone who wants to have a go can join it. It is really good as it gives the opportunity for people to have a go without having to go somewhere special for it.”

This year, the festival is also doing its bit for the environment, with water pumps for visitors to fill up their reusable bottles rather than buying and throwing away thousands of plastic bottles over the weekend. In partnership with Refill and charity Well Boring, it has been encouraging people to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

Chair of Chippenham charity Well Boring Nigel Linacre has been encouraging festival-goers to refill their bottles and also explain how important water pumps are for people in Kenya.

He said: “People buy thousands of plastic water bottles at events like this, and at the end of the weekend there is a huge amount of plastic waste, and the Chippenham Folk Festival want to reduce that as much as possible.

“It has been a roaring trade, people think it is great.”

There are still events taking place today so it isn’t too late to see what is on offer. For more information, please visit: www.chippfolk.co.uk.

More photo's from the festival can be seen in next Thursday's (May 31) Gazette.