COLCHESTER'S Free Festival will “definitely” be back next year.

Organisers said they have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback they received following Saturday's event.

Keep Colchester Cool hosted the free one-day event, for the first time in nine years.

About 15,000 people went along to watch a host of local bands.

Ben Howard, who organised the event, said: “All the team has been talking about is how to improve it further for next year and make the experience better for people.

“We would love the council to recognise the event and get funding to provide facilities such as more toilets, as there were queues.

“We just didn’t expect the turnout we got and with the financing we had, couldn’t over order things like that.

“We will definitely be coming back next year. It was amazing.”

Mr Howard also thanked the event’s sponsors, including Lion Walk shopping centre, Silk Road bar and CopaCabana Bar and Grill, for “taking a chance” on the event.

A spokeswoman for Colchester Police praised the organisers for holding a successful event. She said: “There was a very friendly atmosphere at the festival.

“There is always the potential for trouble when you have a large number of people coming together, but the event passed very peacefully.”