THOUSANDS of music fans at a blues festival paid tribute to its late founder this weekend.

The 11th annual Stanley Blues Festival took place in the County Durham former pit town on Saturday.

The man behind the free family event was John Kearney, founder of the Consett-based music co-operative, Northern Recording, who died in December, aged 55.

He guided it from a low-key day with local bands and 400 fans in 1993, to a major festival showcasing top names and attracting a record 15,000 crowd last year.

As well as putting Stanley on the musical map, the one-day event brings an estimated £500,000 into the local economy, boosting pubs, shops and hotels, and providing work for local musicians and technical crews.

Compere Mike Elliott opened proceedings by paying tribute to his achievements. He asked the 12,000-strong crowd to raise their beer cans in memory of Mr Kearney, and said: "We are not going to have a minute's silence. We are going to have six hours of stonking blues music."

Blues fans from across the North-East began queuing outside the Kings Head Field venue two hours before the free festival opened, eager to get a good view of international acts such as the Big Town Playboys and 70-year-old veteran Lazy Lester, with Blues 'n' Trouble.

The crowd favourite was Texan outfit Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys. Willie, dressed head to toe in black, stole the show when he got off stage in the middle of a number and walked among the families eating picnics, playing and singing throughout.

Paul Green, of Northern Recording, said: "It was a cracking day and we enjoyed it. The crowd is so appreciative and knowledgeable and really works with the bands.

"If the bands come off stage bouncing and look like they have had a ball, you know that is because the crowd is having a good time."

Asked why crowd numbers were down on last year's record 15,000, he said: "We estimate there was about 12,000 there. We don't try to outdo ourselves with bigger crowds - it is about people enjoying themselves on the day and coming back each year."

Other acts inlcuded the Marcus Malone Band and an acoustic set from the Nimmo Brothers.