CARLISLE looked like it did before covid at the weekend as crowds gathered in English Street to enjoy the city's first ever Hawker Festival.

In bright sunshine, hundreds mingled freely, revelling in the chance to socialise and enjoy live music, seemingly oblivious to any lingering fears about growing threat of covid's new 'Delta' variant.

Not everybody thought the Carlisle City Council organised event was a good idea.

But those who flocked to English Street for the festival were thrilled to have what looked like normality back in their lives as they visited food stalls, sipped drinks, or simply stood to enjoy the live music.

One of the most enthusiastic people was Carlisle City Council's community development officer - and lifelong musician - Stephen Dunn. "Today is a pure joy," he said.  "It's hard to describe how I feel seeing this happen. We've all been so pent up over the last year; this feels like life is starting up again.

"It's like a rejuvenation.

"It's quite emotional. I certainly feel that the time is right. These performers haven't been able to play in front of an audience for a long time and it's truly fantastic that they're doing that today.

"It's just so positive for our city." Others felt equally liberated. Michael Roger, 33, at the event with his daughter Ava, six, said: "I feel completely safe." The music fans in the crowd included Krystian Johnstone, 27, and Amy Denham, 26, who had to spend a couple of days in hospital as she recovered from Covid 19.

"It was horrendous," she said. "I was on oxygen and for a while didn't really know what was going on. This [event] may be a bit soon." Krystian added: "They should have held this in the park but it will help people's mental health."

Cyclist Steve Hampton, 64, was fully supportive of the festival. "The time for this is perfect," he said. "Sixty percent of the population are vaccinated and the number of new cases in Carlisle is not huge. The time is right to open up society and start to relax a little."

Reaction on social media to the event was less positive.

A number of people expressed concern about the close mixing and lack of social distancing among many in the crown.

Delma Waywell said: How was this allowed to happen? What message is it giving out - and when the hospitals are full again are people going to stand outside and clap?"

Diane Little put an altermative view, saying "I am so sick of seeing the typical comments about why is this allowed. Why can't people realise there's covid still and I can't see my family because of people doing this .... please get over it move on with life. We can not hide away forever."