If you thought this year's Croydon Food and and Music Festival was especially busy then you weren't wrong.

That's because more that 12,000 turned up to the seventh rendition of the event, the most that's ever come through the gates.

Addressing the crowd, Mayor of Croydon Bernadette Khan said: “It demonstrates the face of Croydon.

"It brings communities together, it brings cultures together, it brings families together, and everybody is enjoying themselves; there are so many happy and smiling faces.

"Families, a collage of cultures, people enjoying each other’s company together."

To make give the event that extra boost was England's dominant 6-1 victory over Panama, which coincided with Sunday's festivities.

Peter Bagatti, of the South Croydon Business Association and Bagatti’s restaurant in South Croydon, believed this result was a direct result of “the beautiful weather and England’s victory”

"It has developed massively," he said.

"We started in 2012, when we had 4,000 people.

"We have more than quadrupled the size of the festival, the amount of people and the amount of stalls that we get.

“A big thanks to our organisers. A massive thanks to Leon House, our headline sponsor, to Croydon Partnership, Quantum, Bryden Johnson, Bagattis, Tre Fratelli and our ward councillors.”

Not only were the organisers pleased with the atmosphere, but the crowd was as well.

Fern Champion travelled from Tooting to Croydon for the festival and said: “It’s such a fun and vibrant atmosphere.

"I’m not from Croydon but coming out here and seeing what the town has to offer has been fantastic.

"This festival really helps to put Croydon on the map.”