Musicians, dancers and a team of football mascots entertained hundreds of revellers over the weekend as Burgess Hill Festival got off to a flying start.

Events kicked off on Friday with Richard Bennett's New Orleans Jazz Band at the Martlets Hall. All 300 tickets were snapped up.

On Saturday, people lined the streets to see the annual procession. This year's theme was jazz and performers helped entertain visitors.

Up to 600 visitors went to St John's Park, where attractions included a funfair, surf simulator and laser clay pigeon shooting.

Footballers could also challenge one of the 25 humans dressed as football mascots to a penalty shootout in aid of Chailey Heritage School.

The Saturday Night Hop event featured music by Keith Hayman, who has been a musical director for Sir Cliff Richard.

He played keyboard and guitar at Martlets Hall as 270 dancers jived to everything from Glen Miller to current chart hits.

On Sunday cyclists took to the roads for the 11th annual Burgess Hill Bike Ride.

Riders chose a 20- or 40-mile route around the Sussex countryside.

And for those with any energy left, Scope held a concert with tunes from the musicals last night. The event, performed by Hassocks group Friends And Neighbours, was put on for pensioners.

Chris Goldfinch, chairman of the Burgess Hill Festival, said: "We've had an excellent turnout to everything so far and we were especially pleased with Saturday.

"Everybody said it was the best carnival and procession we have ever organised. It was a lot of hard work and those sorts of comments are very welcome and make it all worthwhile."

Tonight top names from the world of wrestling will climb into the ring for the Wrestling Extravaganza at Martlets Hall.

Mr Goldfinch said the evening was a regular favourite with residents.

The ten day festival ends on June 15.

Elsewhere in Mid Sussex, more than 50 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were on show at Borde Hill Gardens, Haywards Heath, during a rally by the South East Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club.

Phantoms and Silver Spirits were among the highlights as well as Pop Larkin's famous car from the ITV show The Darling Buds Of May.

In Albourne, old dogs were shown some new digs when Jimmy Hill opened Deneholme Retirement Kennels.

The football pundit, who lives in Sussex, cut the tape yesterday for the new centre for former racers belonging to Brighton and Hove Greyhound Owners' Association members.