AS A FESTIVAL newbie I didn’t know what to expect from Brownstock Festival, but it lived up to all my expectations - and more.

Not being a huge fan of crowds, bad weather or portaloos (yuck) I was a little nervous I wouldn’t enjoy thre three-day festival.

But I shouldn’t have worried as, to put it simply, it was amazing.

The festival site at Morris Farm in Stow Maries, was packed out with colourful tents, stages, stalls and carnival rides this weekend.

It was impossible not to get excited as site was flooded with music and the ground shook as the 7,000 strong crowd dance and cheered its way through performances by headline acts DJ Fresh, Basement Jaxx and Example.

The smaller but no less popular Treehouse stage was packed with local acts, such as South Woodham Ferrers band Stealing Signs, who staged a three-hour take-over session including crowd-pleasing performances from the 13-strong drum group Legion of Doom, Mandeville, air guitar competitions and games of beer pong.

There were plenty of food stalls to try out, including one that presented me with a burger as big as my head and another that sold chips and gravy - exactly what I was craving at 1am in the morning after several cans of cider. 

My group of friends and I also braved the BUMP roller disco - ouch! - and the terrifying spinning Oxygen ride and were delighted with the results of our face painting sessions, which left us with beautiful, glittery flowery designs around our eyes. 

I was also impressed with the fact that, for a festival packed with 7,000 people, the portaloos were impressively clean and well looked after each morning, so a big well done to the organisers there as it's not an easy feat to pull off!

So, after all my worrying, I’ve gone from festival-newbie to full-on festival fan and am already planning next year’s visit!

Tickets are now on sale for next year’s festival, from July 8 - 10, 2016 . More details and tickets available at www.brownstock.co.uk