A GLAMOUROUS celebration of nostalgia invited people to take a step back in time as part of Heritage Open Days.

Visitors to the Here's Heritage outdoor vintage festival in Reading on Saturday - day three of the annual four day festival - sipped tea from china cups, bought clothes from decades gone by and swung along to 1940s singing trio The Bombshells.

Hairdresser Kamani Lomas, who runs Kam Vintage Hair, was also on hand to transform ladies into 1940s icons at the Market Place event - organised by Alexandra Dewis, from Emmer Green, who runs online fashion outlet, Alexandra Vintage

Alexandra said: "This is the first time we have been part of Heritage Open Days, it's a brand new concept and it's been really well received. There's been a real revival in vintage so we thought why not jump on the band wagon in Reading!"

It also gave budding textiles designer Charlotte Pettley a chance to introduce visitors to her Time For Tea collection of pillows, napkins and more. Charlotte, 23, from the town centre, who graduated in textiles design last year, said: "I am trying to get my design work out there and this festival is perfect. All my stuff is inspired by the 1950s."

People also got hands on with art workshops run by art group Jelly, tucked into cakes made by CakeAway and browsed photography and other antiques.

Heritage Open Days has included more than 40 events, including tours of Reading's historical churches and buildings, from the uniquely classical St Mary's Episcopal Church in Castle Street to Grade II listed Malmaison hotel in Station Road, formerly the Great Western Hotel, built in 1844.

The action packed programme also featured a guided walk of Reading's industrial history in the town centre, east Reading and Katesgrove, and workshops, such as a pop-up book making for children at Waterstones, Broad Street.

The festivities were brought to a close on Sunday in Forbury Gardens will live performances by Trinity Concert Band and Salvation Army Reading Central Band in the restored Victorian bandstand - part of a nationwide Bandstand Marathon marking the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jo Keen, from Redaing UK CIC, which co-ordinated the Open Days, said: "Already the verbal feedback has been really good, people were thrilled with the number of people coming through there doors, it has been overwhelmingly positive."