A GLUSBURN festival headlined by jazz queen Clare Teal has been branded “hugely successful” by one of its volunteer organisers.

Sue Ingham said the sell-out performance by the Kildwick-born singer and BBC presenter was just one highlight of this year’s Fallfest.

She said: “Overall the high spots were tremendously high, it was very much appreciated by the local community, and we’re buzzing from it.

“There seems to be an appetite for this event and we will do our best to keep it going. We are desperately short of volunteers and funding.”

The Fallfest committee organised three days of entertainment, including music, theatre, history and food, based in and around Glusburn Institute.

The festival began on Friday evening with leading covers band Beardsmith playing hits from the 80s to the present day, supported by Cononley band The Attics.

Sue said: “It was hit after hit. They are family group and their harmonies were amazing.

Fallfest moved across the road to farmer John Nelson’s field on Saturday for a farmers’ market with about 20 stalls selling food and crafts.

Sue said Saturday’s heavy rain affected attendance, but she paid tribute to local band Diamond Nines for playing on despite the downpours.

Evening entertainment in the institute began with a "jazz cafe" where Leeds College of Music student Jack Bryanton performed saxophone as diners ate.

Sue said: “We all stopped and listened because he was fantastic. Clare Teal and her band tiptoed along to hear him and thought he was a knockout.”

Sue said the crowd went berserk during Clare’s evening concert, which had sold out within 36 hours of tickets going on sale last June.

She said: “She opened the first Fallfest in 2011 and she is our patron. She was delighted to be back in Glusburn. She is an international star, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots.”

Sunday saw a history exhibition which featured a facsimile of the Magna Carta and a display focusing on Glusburn Institute’s position as a community hub since it was built in the 1800s.

Director Rebecca Durham-Ward worked with Glusburn Youth Theatre to create a promenade performance, where the audience were taken around the institute’s rooms to meet figures from the building’s past.

Sue said: “It was fabulous. The institute is a big place to trek round, but the audience really appreciated it.”

Anyone who wishes to get involved with next year’s Fallfest should call Sue Ingham on 07506 338669 or email sue@fallfest.co.uk.