The biggest ever attendance for a gig on Forestry Commission land in Britain was recorded as Irish band The Script wowed the crowd at High Lodge.

A total of 8250 people packed in to the woods at Thetford on a lovely summer evening - about 300 more than the previous highest total at a forest venue.

'We are delighted,' said Forestry Commission spokesman Roger Woods, who got a massive cheer from the sell-out crowd when he announced that the new record had been set.

Forest gigs have been going nearly 15 years and even with Latitude starting in Suffolk this weekend, the lure of Thetford is still very strong.

The first three gigs in the concert season last month - Erasure, Status Quo and Simple Minds - attracted 13,000 people.

Another 7000 attended the Westliffe gig on Friday night and around 3000 are expected to see Bryan Ferry on Saturday night.

The huge crowd for The Script reflected the rise and rise of the Dublin band, whose spring indoor arena tour sold out in record time.

They kicked off with You Won't Feel A Thing and lead singer Danny O'Donoghue soon got the crowd's hands in the air and singing with him.

'We would take the roof off - if there was one!' he joked before telling fans: 'What a beautiful place you live in. You guys are incredible.'

As he sang the band's first single We Cry, he went off to the stage to the front of the screaming crowd and got up close and personal with his adoring following.

He is a clearly a favourite with the ladies, some of whom had made special posters with messages for the band - and a few of were a little too risque to be repeated.

During their 90-minute set The Script had brilliant crowd interaction and they played all their hits including If You Ever You Come Back, If You See Kay, Science and Faith, Man Who Can't Be Moved, I'm Yours, Nothing, Rusty Halo, For the First Time and Breakeven.

They take a picture for their Twitter feed every night on tour from the stage and you would imagine it will be a spectacular image with more than 8000 fans looking up and the sun setting through the trees.

There had been light rain in Thetford during the morning and the skies were then cloudy all day before the sun broke out just as the crowds started flocking in.

Support was provided by Maverick Sabre, who is an up and coming singer who performed a varied set including soul and reggae style numbers.

He has appeared on the Jools Holland TV show and mentioned by Radio One's Chris Moyles and proved a big draw on Facebook and Youtube.

*See Monday's EDP for reviews on Westliffe and Bryan Ferry.