AN ANNUAL music festival in Monmouthshire raised £4,000 for charity.

Last months Shirefest, backed by our sister newspaper the Free Press, provided an extravaganza of live music and children’s activities in Shirenewton, near Chepstow.

Shirefest 2013 was held at The Huntsman Hotel and saw 22 bands and singers perform across three stages in the car park, function room and a bay window in the bar.

Among those to perform were Fireroad, Live Loungers, Nataley Simpson, Birdcage and Ghost of a Dog.

There were also performances in the Piano cafe by students from the Chepstow piano school.

The proceeds from the event will be split between Help for Heroes, Holly Hedge animal sanctuary, Shirenewton and Mynyyddback Fields Association (SAMFAL) , The Noah’s Ark Appeal and the Free Press-backed appeal for Brecon Vaughan- a Mathern five year-old to raise £60,000 for pioneering surgery to help him walk on his own.

Dave Watkins, one the event’s organisers who has been involved in the Shirefest since its inception in 2000, said: “ This year’s Shirefest was a record breaking success and raising £4,000 for charity.”

“We want to say a big thank you to the family and staff of The Huntsman Hotel and the local volunteers who willingly gave up their time to help us set up, run and breakdown the infrastructure required for this event every year.”

“They have also played a big part in helping to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.”