THE award-winning Swaledale Festival has enjoyed a record-breaking year, with more visitors than ever before.

The Festival, which has grown significantly over the last decade, attracted in excess of 8,000 ticket buyers.

Around 90 events took place across Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale, including classical, folk and jazz music, family theatre, world cinema, dance, poetry and art exhibitions.

Events took place in over 30 different venues, from village churches and chapels to large halls seating several hundred people.

The superstar cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his friends performed to a sell-out crowd at the Garden Rooms at Tennants in Leyburn, and the current BBC Young Musician of the Year, 17-year-old pianist Lauren Zhang, played to a packed audience in Richmond’s Influence Church.

World music played a big part in this year’s Festival: the Spanish guitarist Paco Peña delighted the audience at St Andrew’s Church in Grinton with his flamenco music.

St Andrew’s also hosted global music explorers Kabantu, violinist Jennifer Pike who performed with three top Indian musicians and Antonio Forcione’s Italian, African and South American fusion.

World cinema also played a part, with films from Spain, Palestine and Chile shown in small venues in Leyburn and Hawes.

Next year’s Swaledale Festival will run from May 23 to June 6 with details revealed in early spring.