Music fans got the official nod to carry on boozing as revellers poured into Dartmouth for the annual Dart Music Festival.

South Hams Council set up extra large 'alcohol free zone' signs in Dartmouth following booze-fuelled problems at last year's royal regatta.

But last weekend the district council put out special notices telling people that they could still knock back the alcohol as they enjoyed the open-air music... as long as they behaved themselves.

However, they were warned that if they ended up hitting the wrong note with the police then they could find their drinks confiscated – and face a fine of up to £500.

The large signs that are in place in Royal Avenue Gardens simply say that it is an Alcohol Free Zone.

But the district council decided to add a notice making it clear the people are 'NOT banned from drinking alcohol in the town's public areas during Dart Music festival and that includes the beautiful Royal Avenue Gardens'.

But the notice also added: 'However, if a police officer asks someone to give up their alcohol they should do so or face arrest or a fine of up to £500. Normally the police will only ask someone to stop drinking if they are causing a nuisance.'

A spokesman for the council said that there have been various signs in Dartmouth telling people about the town's Alcohol Control Zones since the zone was extended to cover much of the town in 2011.

She added: 'Following a number of alcohol related incidents during last year's regatta, the council erected larger, temporary signs as part of efforts to raise awareness and assist the police.

'On Thursday, May 9, a dozen temporary signs were put up in key areas around the town for the duration of the Dart Music Festival weekend and are due to be taken down today (May 13).

She added: 'We are considering using the same temporary signage during this year's regatta week so we are keen to hear residents' feedback.'

Meanwhile, police have said the music festival was virtually trouble free.

More than 20,000 people are believed to have packed into the town for the three days of free music over last weekend.

But police have said the only crimes involved a vandal attack in Coronation Park and the theft of a mobile telephone.

Dartmouth's new police sergeant Robert Tansley said the festival had been a 'successful event from a policing perspective'.

And he explained: 'Overall people were well behaved.

'The main police activity was the confiscation of a relatively small amount of alcohol from juveniles in Royal Avenue Gardens on Saturday evening and the subsequent dispersal of some of the young people apparently intent on causing trouble in that area.'

He added: 'There have been two reported crimes associated with the event – a criminal damage incident in Coronation Park for which suspects have been identified and the theft of a mobile phone.

'It looks to have been a very peaceful and successful event. The weather may have had something to do with that but people overall were well behaved.'

Reports and pictures from the music festival in this week's Dartmouth Chronicle