AN open-air music event, nicknamed the Glastonbury of the North-East, lived up to its billing at the weekend - with the live music accompanied by heavy rain.

The Whamfest event, at Low Wham, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was held on Friday and Saturday.

Seventeen local bands played a variety of music styles.

The event was held in a field behind the Malt Shovel pub, and bands included The Distractions, of Bishop Auckland, Captain Rock, from Crook and Sabatica, from Northumberland.

But with crowds well down on the expected 2,000, organiser Simon Gillespie admitted the weather had put a dampener on proceedings.

"The bands were really good, but not as many people came as we hoped, because of the weather, which was disappointing, " he said.

"All the crowd who were there loved it and enjoyed it, and we'd certainly do it again next year.

Mr Gillespie, who owns the Wear Valley Brewery, added: "A lot of similar events around the country were cancelled because of the rain, but we carried on - it was certainly a Glastonbury-style experience."