LIVE music made an incredible comeback as the Head for the Hills festival in Bury had a little something for everyone.

For two days the family-friendly gathering reminded music lovers of what they had been missing during lockdown.

And from stellar by bill-topping sets by Badly Drawn Boy and Everything Everything to some homegrown heroes, plenty were left smiling by the close of play.

Metro Mayor Andy Burnham was also on stage to introduce Everything Everything, and mark the festival's post-pandemic return.

Elsewhere one of the most rapturously-received sets came courtesy of local boys Urban Theory, on the second stage.

Lead vocalist Alexander Quinn was left grinning from ear to ear as their return to live performances allowed them to road-test their new single Dirty Faces.

Bolton-born Damon Gough, AKA Badly Drawn Boy, who headlined the Friday night, praised the gathering as "really friendly and well organised" before thanking the crowd for generating a great atmosphere.

And indie veterans The Magic Numbers led several sing-a-longs, as they rolled out numbers from their eponymous debut album and some deeper hard-driving cuts.

For the more intimate arrangements, Ramsbottom's own acoustic favourites Secret Lemonade Factory and the ever-impressive Harp and a Monkey were given warm receptions, while Beth Atwell and Junior Bill kept things ticking over on the main stage.

Not many festivals feature ride-bys with the Flying Scotsman - but Head for the Hills' one-off home at Burrs Country Park afforded the crowds plenty of glimpses of the legendary loco on the East Lancs Railway at frequent intervals.

Promoters have pledged that the festival should be back at its usual Ramsbottom Cricket Club home for 2022 - but the chance to be a part of Burrs Live as a one-off can certainly be classed as a welcome one-off.