THIS Hampshire festival never fails to be a scorcher.

More than 5,000 people have descended on Blissfields this weekend for one of the county's most celebrated boutique festivals.

The weekender near Winchester has a reputation for avoiding the rain, as well as hosting tomorrow's chart-toppers.

And the sun was soon beating down after brief early showers.

The music started yesterday with a barnstorming set from Dub Pistols, veterans of the festival which has previously hosted Bastille and Mumford & Sons.

Festivalgoers who escaped the water queue enjoyed sets from a range of local bands on Thursday and Friday, including Plastic Mermaids and Winchester ambient duo Youngskin.

On the main stage, headliners The Horrors signed off with an art-rock tour-de-force and the party was set to continue into the night at Vicarage Farm's secluded dancefloors and notorious Hidden Hedge.

Friday's headliners are John Grant and UK dance gang Simian Mobile Disco.

On the campsite, Ella Bowie, a 21-year-old student from Chandler's Ford, said: "I've been coming to Blissfields for four years. I think it's very important for the local area - it's nice to see people of all ages here and there's something for everyone."

She added: "The best thing is it's a very small site and you're close to the action."

But Blissfields could almost double in size over the next five years. Organisers Paul and Mel Bliss have a licence to host 8,000 people but told the Daily Echo last month they hope to grow the festival "organically" from its current size of 5,000.