Record numbers turned out today to support Chingford's biggest community event.

Up to 15,000 people assembled on Station Road for the return of the Chingford Village Festival with hundreds of spectators cheering on musicians and dancers from all walks of life.

Despite a few raindrops here and there, the heavy rainfall held off with a few familiar faces turning up during the afternoon.

Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Teddy Sheringham popped by with his two year-old son George, MP Iain Duncan-Smith was spotted chatting to visitors, and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Micky Dumoulin.

The aspiring singer from Waltham Abbey played a 15 minute set at the Oasis Roadshow tent adjacent to the Chingford Green and then chilled out with friends and family until the festival finished at 5pm.

Speaking after his performance, the 26 year old said:"It was brilliant. The crowd were amazing and there was a massive cheer afterwards.

"It felt like being back in the studio of Britain's Got Talent."

The main attractions of the day included children's face-painting, the bouncy castle, the Soup Ukulele Band, Epping Forest Bagpipe Band, Cerebro Dance Group and vocalist Jessica John Parsons among many others.

Karen Stein of The Singing Room Choir, who performed inside Mornington Hall, praised the arrangement of today's event.

The 42 year-old of Douglas Road, Walthamstow, said: "It is lovely. I went to a festival in Walthamstow a couple weeks back and felt like I spent the whole day going from one queue to another.

"Considering how many more stalls there are here today, it is really well-run and organised with no queues, I will definitely be coming back."

Family of six Patrick Ladbury, his wife Annabel and four children from Horsley Road, Chingford, spent the whole afternoon at the festival.

"There was quite a lot to get through and was really nice to see new stalls like the animal rescue centre.

"From an adult point of view it was nice to see that not everything was about selling, it has a great community feel and there were lots of information stalls."

The entertainment continued along Station Road with a new Saturday farmers' market independent of the festival and host of band performances co-ordinated by Shelley of the Soulscreamers inside Loco Lounge.

Chingford Village Festival organiser Irene Bull, 60, described the positive feedback throughout the day as "overwhelming" and will now start preparing again for next year's event on June 13.