OVER the April 27-28 weekend, the Waterworks Museum came alive with the vibrant sound and colour of Hereford's third Steampunk Festival and some fantastic family entertainment, which kept visitors enthralled all weekend.

Throughout the event, visitors (who included the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr. Sue Boulter) were entertained by brilliant acts of juggling, balance, illusion and magic performed by Mr Alexander and Greg Chapman, and performances by Ichabod Steam in his robotic Steampunk submarine.

Added to this was a wide range of weird and wonderful costumes inspired by the science-fiction of the Victorian age of steam power, and stalls in the museum visitor centre and on the forecourt selling colourful Steampunk costume, period jewellery and collectables and confectionary.

Cllr. Boulter enthused: "I didn't know much about Steampunk before, but my visit to the Waterworks Museum was a real pleasure from beginning to end. The costumes and market stalls were fascinating to see, but I especially enjoyed all the smiling faces - particularly younger visitors watching the performers who were simply brilliant. I could have stayed on site much longer."

"The Waterworks Museum has become a firm favourite with my performers" said event organiser, David Smith. "This was demonstrated by Greg Chapman persuading his old friend Mr Alexander to fit it into his schedule and give it a try, and then Mr Alexander very quickly agreeing to come back next year."

Museum chairman, Richard Curtis, said: "Hosting this event over two days with extended opening hours called for big effort from our volunteers, so I was delighted to see so many visitors enjoying the Steampunk market and entertainment."

He added: "The smooth running of the weekend was helped greatly by support from Hinton FC and Hereford Society of Model Engineers, who gave access to car parking and other facilities, and also this year from Mills Mobility Aids of Hereford who freely installed some access boards to ensure that all our visitors could enjoy seeing Mr Alexander's show in the meadow at the back of the museum site."

Despite at times uncertain weather, attendance was good on both days. A gallery of photographs from the Steampunk weekend is available on the museum website, which, will hopefully inspire even more visitors from local Herefordshire communities to enjoy this event next year.