MUD, music and messy fun marked the tenth anniversary of one of the country’s leading family-friendly festivals.

Last weekend saw ten thousand people brave the elements to splash and splodge their way through three days packed with entertainment at Deer Shed Festival.

Leaky tents, fields full of muddy puddles and Saturday’s regular torrential downpours did little to dissuade festival-goers of all ages from enjoying the tenth anniversary of the event, which took place at Baldersby Park, near Topcliffe.

Friday’s brief respite from adverse weather conditions meant families and friends could set up their temporary homes before exploring the site and dipping into the beginnings of a programme containing more than 1,800 hours of entertainment.

That night’s headliners – Manchester’s indie-electronic favourites Slow Readers Club and Mercury-nominated Anna Calvi – kickstarted a weekend that would see talent from across the world descend upon North Yorkshire.

The festival’s eclectic collective of musicians also included acclaimed acts Ezra Furman, Akala, The Wedding Present, She Drew the Gun and Gruff Rhys.

A host of well-known comedians and performers added to the line-up, with Middlesbrough comic Patrick Monahan among those attempting to deliver PG rated material to a diverse crowd.

He joined Reginald D Hunter, Nina Conti, Milton Jones and Richard Herring in ensuring audiences had plenty to laugh about throughout the adverse weather conditions.

Slipping and sliding their way from tent to tent, raincoat clad crowds also enjoyed a host of workshops, arts and crafts, cabaret, theatre, live podcasts, literary events and scientific experiments.

A sports arena saw people go head-to-head in space hopper races, Quidditch matches and crazy golf while a variety of independent traders ensured nobody went hungry.

With farmers on hand to drag cars out of the mud and stewards posted at every corner, weather-related disruption was well-managed throughout the busy event.

Festival director Oliver Jones said the downpours did not detract from the event’s positive atmosphere, adding: “The rain of course brings extra challenges over the weekend, but each year we prepare fully for all weather conditions.

“It’s amazing how our audience always manage to maintain the festival’s feel-good atmosphere and never allow it to get in the way of enjoying the huge array of entertainment programmed over three days.”

He added: “Credit also has to go to all of our fantastic performers, volunteers and traders for keeping the show on the road and ensuring our audience could still have a magical time throughout.”

Tickets for next year’s Deer Shed Festival will go on sale from 10am on September 10.

For more information, visit deershedfestival.com.