Choirs broke into song, dancers took to a stage and artists flourished their paint brushes in a bumper day of culture and fun in Hampstead.

The patchy weather could not stop thousands of people descending on the village to enjoy everything from birds of prey displays to beer-swigging in Hampstead Summer Festival’s Big Fair Day.

In just the festival’s second year punters pitched up to enjoy a myriad cultural delights starting with a free film screening at the Everyman Cinema and ending with live music on the main stage.

Cllr Linda Chung, who helped organise the festival, said: “It was such a fantastic day.

“The main thing that everyone said was how great the atmosphere was in Hampstead – Heath Street was coming to life.”

Queues formed at the festival’s Sport Zone where children queued up for the chance to have a go on the mini tennis courts and judo mats, while parents packed into the award-winning Duke of Hamilton pub to sample the 40 different beers being put on offer.

Rugby World Cup winner Kyran Bracken poured the event’s first pint for the gathered regulars and visitors who travelled in from as far as Brighton to sup the ale offerings.

Publican Jeremy Reeve said: “I can’t believe how many people came in to enjoy the beer. The whole thing was fantastic.”

The carnival atmosphere hit Heath Street with Hampstead’s art galleries showcasing works by talented local artists while circus acts were entertaining the throngs of revellers.