Event figures show 30,000 spectators poured into Cosham to enjoy Portsmouth Summer Show

Thirty-thousand guests poured in to King George V Playing Fields, in Cosham, to see acts including Peter Andre, Union J, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Scouting for Girls perform.

Organisers say they’re delighted with the huge turnout as work gets going to dismantle and clear up the festival site following the Bank Holiday celebration.

The stage has already been pulled down, traders have packed up and left and now branding behind the spectacle is being taken down.

The clean-up operation is due to be finished, weather permitting, by the end of the week.

Festival co-organiser Andy Marsh said it couldn’t have gone ‘any better’.

He said: ‘It was fantastic, the weather held out which was amazing.

‘The atmosphere was brilliant. It couldn’t have gone better. The acts loved it and they were blown away by the crowd.’

Andy said his team’s sights are now set on arranging the upcoming Portsmouth Beer Festival at Portsmouth Guildhall.

The beer bash takes place from May 20 to 21 and tickets cost £10 per person.

Andy said: ‘Everyone is packing down now, and then we’ll be out of there.’

Kathryn Browne, the mother of Union J’s Portsmouth-born star Josh Cuthbert, said the family went to watch the band play.

She said: ‘We – Josh’s mum, dad, sister Victoria, fiancee Chloe Lloyd, aunt and two cousins – really enjoyed the Portsmouth Summer Show.

‘There was a great atmosphere and a really good crowd of people who all seemed to be enjoying the music.

‘Union J were quite nervous because it was the first time they had performed as a three-piece, and didn’t know how well they would be received.

‘But the crowd were very welcoming and supportive, and gave the boys a great reception. Whilst it was rather cold, the weather didn’t dampen people’s enthusiasm for the event.

‘It was rather poignant for Josh to perform right next to Roebuck House, the building where his grandma used to work – he is very close to her, and she has played an important part in supporting Josh throughout his musical career.’