Businesses across Carlisle received a big boost as the city welcomed Bryan Adams and Little Mix to Bitts Park in a live music double-header.

Thousands of people arrived in the city for a big weekend of music, packing out pubs, bars and restaurants - and indulging in a spot of retail therapy.

The visit of Canadian singer-songwriter Adams and Little Mix - one of the biggest names in pop music today - came just weeks after the visit of Olly Murs and UB40 to Carlisle United's Brunton Park home and Jess Glynne to Carlisle Racecourse, with crowds travelling from across Cumbria and beyond.

To celebrate the arrival of Little Mix, bar and eatery Hell Below on Devonshire Street hosted an afternoon tea for fans going to see their idols.

"We started advertising it about three weeks beforehand," James Atkinson, who was working at the city centre bar on the day of the concert, told The Cumberland News.

"After that we had a lot of interest with people asking if we still had any space left.

"On the day we were full to capacity, which was good to see.

"We were also busy on the Saturday before Bryan Adams as well, especially during the day.

"They [the concerts] seemed to have brought a lot of people into the city, which was great for us."

Viv Dodd, secretary of the Carlisle City Centre Business Group, said that he would welcome further concerts taking place, adding that a lot of businesses would be able to benefit from increased numbers of people.

"I think pubs, bars and coffee shops in particular were very busy," he said.

"Then on top of that the shops were benefiting as well.

"I went into a couple of pubs and they said that on Saturday in particular, when Bryan Adams was on, they had been really busy.

"Without a doubt we would welcome more events in the future. It was a great weekend.

"That's continued this week with the graduation ceremonies in the city as well, there's a lot of people coming into the city."

Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council, said that the authority was hoping to continue hosting events that would appeal to fans and also increase footfall into the city.

"A couple of years ago we had Tom Jones in Bitts Park," he said.

"We've also recently had the concerts at Brunton Park and at Carlisle Racecourse.

"We want to do everything we can to bring big names into Carlisle.

"We've had really positive feedback from businesses in Carlisle who have seen increased footfall.

"The city isn't just a gateway from people south of here but having big names also draws in people from Scotland and across from the north east.

"We've had people who have never been to Carlisle before and visited for the first time.

"Hopefully we've made the right impression, which will encourage them to come back."