Tilty Flower Festival raised a record-breaking £5,500 for the church in the village this weekend (September 24 and 25).

Dunmow Broadcast: Sandra Walker playing bowls.Sandra Walker playing bowls. (Image: SaffronPhoto 2016)

The organisers are still counting up the takings – so are expecting that total to rise – from the generosity of around 600 visitors that came for the flowers, concert, and barbecue. Proceeds go to Tilty Church.

Last year the festival made up to 50 per cent less than this year.

Joanna Eden performed at the event, a jazz and folk singer-songwriter who has performed at the Edinburgh Festival and counts Sam Smith as a former pupil.

Fiona Tidswell, an organiser, said: “It went really well, we had a concert which was great, and the flowers were really popular.

“Thank you to everybody who helped out both inside and outside the church, we are very lucky that we have such a strong community around here that so many people put a lot of work in before and after the event.”

Homemade jams, chutney, marmalade and produce went down well, as did the bar.

The festival will come back to Tilty next year, in the first weekend of October.