Nearly 1,000 people turned out at The Worthey’s in Malmesbury at the weekend to see the skies filled with kites, marking the second annual Malmesbury Kite Festival.

The free event was first held last year to mark 1,000 years since Eilmer the Monk launched himself from the Abbey roof with wings strapped to his limbs in man’s first recorded attempt at flight.

This year organisers were hoping to better the 800 attendees last year and the people of Malmesbury didn’t disappoint.

Organiser Julia Caton said they hoped now to make it an annual festival.

“It was a fantastic day, we’re really pleased how it went,” she said.

“We haven’t yet got the final tally, but we know just over 900 people that came along, so we’re absolutely thrilled.

“We wanted to make it a free event, but from people’s donations we still raised £700.

“It means we can host it again next year.”

With kite flyers travelling from all over the country, including as far away as Northumberland, organisers were holding their breath that they would get good weather.

Ms Caton said: “Thankfully we were lucky with the weather and we got some wind.

“The Worthey’s, which the landowners are generous enough to loan to us, is the best kite flying field in Malmesbury because it’s on a hill.

“It gets plenty of wind and everyone can see the kites really well.”

Ms Caton’s father John, who also helped pull the strings to make the festival possible, is well regarded in kite-flying circles and was able to attract a variety of kite flying individuals.

Ms Caton said: “We were able to get some really good flyers to come along.

“We put on the best kite festival we could and we’re already planning for next year.

“We publicised it just in the Malmesbury area this year, but we’re thinking of casting our net a little wider for next time.”