ALWAYS a whole year in the planning and an incalculable number of hours willingly volunteered by the organisers eking the maximum out of a shoestring budget, Spring Rock 2009, held over the weekend, put a smile on the face of Launceston once again.

Blessed by weather organisers couldn't have dreamt possible a week earlier, this year's festival attracted hundreds of visitors over the bank holiday weekend.

The eclectic mix of dance music on Friday night and live bands, workshops, and activities on Saturday — where else would you see kids making clay animation films or 'laying down beats' on an I-Mac in the middle of a Cornish field? — was topped off, this year, with the premiere of Cornwall's own 'zombie' movie, which had the audience in fits.

As chairman of the Spring Rock Association, Neville Akroyd said: "I am proud to work with an ever-growing group of highly motivated, community-minded people who pool their various talents and resources to make the event happen."

He extended his thanks to all those who donated considerable time and effort before, during and after the event, to the performers, many of whom refused even to take expenses, and to everyone else who helped make the event such a success.