Thousands of people shunned the Wimbledon final to attend the South Norwood Community Festival on Sunday.

It was baking hot in SE25 and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as more than 5,000 people took in the delights of the festival.

This was the first time the festival was held at South Norwood Recreation Ground and there was a variety of activities on offer.

The Far Isles Medieval Society wowed the crowds with their sword fighting and there was also a visit from the Royal British Legion Riders Branch.

There was live music, bouncy castles, arts and crafts and a variety of food outlets for people to visit.

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Far Isles Medieval Society - display combat

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Big bouncy slide

Richard Hough, owner of Autoclutch Garage in Station Road, helped organised the event and was also one of the main sponsors.

The crowds spilled over into South Norwood High Street with many businesses in the area benefiting from a boost in trade on what usually would have been a quiet Sunday.

He said: “This showed what the community of South Norwood is all about. Thousands of people turned up and the benefits were there for all to see.

“There was a feel good factor about the whole thing and it is brilliant that we put an event like this on with no funding whatsoever.

“It was just an excellent day. Who said South Norwood doesn’t have a strong community? South Norwood is back. We didn’t need any trendy bars or shops, this was all about community.”

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Music from Endurance Steel Orchestra

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Music from 'Spygenius'

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Hoopdance company teaching people to hoola-hoop