Fishguard was filled with fiddlers and frolickers over the Whitsun bank holiday as the 16th annual Fishguard folk festival bought music and merriment to the town.

The festival, which is mostly free, officially opened on Saturday morning with Heb Enw Morris Dancers banging their sticks and strutting their stuff to the delight of crowds in various locations around the town.

A packed programme of sessions, workshops, concerts and dances drew around 4,000 people to the town. Out of more than 50 programmed events only six were ticketed, the rest were all free of charge.

Highlights of the festival included a singing flash mob at No 14 Chocolate shop, poet Les Barker who had the audience in stitches, sea shanties in the Ship and headliners The Urban Folk Quartet, Calan and Elbow Jane who wowed the crowds with outstanding musicianship.

"It has gone excellently well," said Gary Jones, chairman of Fishguard Folk Club. "We've had a good mix of people from away and local people. The ticketed gigs have nearly all sold out and a lot of the Sunday night sessions were at capacity.

"The feedback has been very very positive, people are already looking forward to the next festival."