Osfest music festival hailed as the best so far

Organisers of Shropshire's star-studded Osfest music festival have hailed this year's event as their best ever.

Carly Jackson, Osfest event director, said more than 5,000 people attended the showground at Park Hall with ticket sales higher than they had ever been. And Miss Jackson, who in the past has helped attract chart-topping acts, said more than 300 local bands had contacted her seeking a place at 2012's festival.

She said preparations were well under way for next summer's event, which will run from June 1 to 4.

Miss Jackson, who works for Oswestry events management company Seventh Sense, said the festival was inspired by the firm's director Mike Scott after he and his son visited V Festival at Weston Park on the Shropshire border.

Miss Jackson said: "He came in really excited and said we can do something like this. We talked about it and I remember him telling me he had booked the showground ready to be turned into Osfest.

"It was a lot of hard work and was something completely new to do. It was a very scary thing to do because it was close to the doorstep.

"It was quite a risk in case it didn't work out. But it did and that was lovely, and I feel proud to be one of the people behind Osfest."

Starring acts at last summer's festival included rappers Goldie Lookin Chain, rock band The Feeling and Example. But organisers have so far remained tight-lipped about big names lined up for the 2012 event.

Miss Jackson, said since the success of Osfest a lot of people had asked for advice on how to get into her line of work.

She said: "It is a hard industry to get into but if people really want to do it then they will get there. Offer to help at events - it's hard to get into unless you work for it."

By Chrissy Symmons