SCOTTISH jigs, Irish ballads, drinking songs and Morris dancing all featured in the 2015 Otley Folk Festival.

Crowds of music fans descended on the town to enjoy the three-day annual attraction, which concluded on Sunday, September 20.

They were treated to a melodic feast which included folk rock outfits like The Hall Brothers, vocal specialists such as Yan Tan Tether, and acclaimed singer-songwriters like O'Hooley and Tidow.

This year the performances were split between a string of venues: Korks Wine Bar, Otley Cricket Club, the Methodist Hall, The Black Horse Hotel, Otley Labour Rooms, and - in its first major involvement for a while - Otley Courthouse.

Courthouse centre manager Rachael Savage was delighted with how things went. She said: "This was the first time in a few years that Otley Courthouse has been a host venue during the folk festival.

"We had food on sale in the courtyard, a sell-out family ceilidh - featuring The Lonely Mr Punch - and fantastic headline gigs from Allan Taylor and Phil Langran.

"This has now raised the bar for our involvement with the festival in the future, and we have shown that by taking a risk and doing something a bit different it can be a huge success!"

The annual event, promoted through Welcome to Otley Folk Festival banners that were put up at all the participating venues, was co-sponsored by the Black Sheep brewery and Otley Town Council.

Council Chairman Councillor Ray Georgeson (Lib Dem, Danefield) was among the appreciative audience at many of the shows.

He said: "The festival is a highlight of our family's calendar every year.

"Sunday afternoon at the Cricket Club had a lovely outdoor festival feel, with Summercross, Roisin Ban and Jon Palmer playing and the kids and grown-ups dancing along."Saturday sunshine outside the Woolpack with Ashfield

School Choir, Clifton Drummers and the legendary Otley Ukes was great fun too.

"Above all, it was good to see visitors enjoying the town's welcome and we now look forward to a big effort for the 25th festival next year."

Summercross feature local MP Greg Mulholland on guitar and vocals, and the politician said he had particularly enjoyed the "superbly bonkers" show by the New Rope String Band at the Methodist Hall on Sunday.

He said: "Well done to Steve Fairholme and his team for organising another excellent Otley Folk Festival.

"It was a great weekend with some fantastic acts and was enjoyed by visitors and locals alike, and thanks too to the sponsors and the businesses who supported the festival.

"It was also great to play again myself and we enjoyed three good gigs, alongside some great local bands.

"I am already looking forward to the 25th festival next year and am sure it will be a fitting silver jubilee for this great and hugely important annual event."

The festival organisers said: "Big thanks to all who came, played, and stewarded for making it a fabulous weekend."