Guitar-driven rock and sing-a-long blues favourites reverberated around Saffron Walden at the weekend as a charity concert sounded off its success in style.

The Blues & Rock Weekender, which took place at Saffron Walden Cricket Club on Friday and Saturday, also featured top up-and-coming young talent from across the Saffron Walden area.

Thaxted singer-songwriter, Shaun Colwill, was one of seven support acts chosen following a competition run through the Reporter to find young musicians to play at the gigs. He said: “It was an honour to play to so many people in aid of such an amazing charity.”

Dave Vant, 15, who won Saffron Walden’s Got Talent in July, added: “I loved the night. The audience was fantastic! Thank you to the organisers for this amazing opportunity and I feel very honoured to perform for such a brilliant charity!”

Headlining were Remus Down Boulevard and the Blues Brothers Band, with more than £3,000 raised for charity. The money will be donated to the cricket club’s academy and the Ethan Rees Linwood Memorial Fund.

Organiser Andrew Arnold thanked the people of Uttlesford for supporting the event.

He said: “We had nine excellent acts over two nights and hope we gave all the younger bands and acts a night to remember. We also need to thank the people of Uttlesford. Time and again they support events and charities in huge numbers, so thank you!”

Fellow organiser Bob Linwood, of the Ethan Rees Linwood Memorial Fund, said: “The highlight was seeing and hearing young musicians playing in front of a large audience, sensing their nervous excitement before going on stage, and seeing their elation and pleasure when they were applauded off.

“Just generally being around such great energy and enthusiasm was fantastic.

“That feeling will stay with me for a long time and will energise us and the charity as we work hard to create more opportunities for local young musical talent.”

Check out our gallery of pictures from the two nights...