NEVER has a theme been more apt.

Bestival’s year of the spectacular was just that.

A record 43,000 revellers came to outer space, also known as Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight for the 2009 space-themed extravaganza.

Dressed as asteroids, satellites, Martians and space cadets, they partied to the sounds of Lily Allen, Kraftwerk and Massive Attack.

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Last year’s Mercury prize-winners Elbow closed the show last night, but even then festival goers refused to give up.

They went in their droves to watch curator Rob da Bank, DJ from a giant bonfire as fireworks went off around him.

In a carnival atmosphere, crowds were treated to some top comedy acts, dancing lessons, games aplenty and even the chance to get married in the world’s only inflatable church.

Partygoers enjoyed an incredible intergalactic fancy dress parade, broke a world record while dancing in their pants and sank Starship Trooper cocktails by the bucket-load.

The country park, near Newport, became a sea of colour, for the three-day event – now in its sixth year.

Bestival 2009 was blessed with blazing sunshine and not a drop of rain, in stark contrast to last year’s festival season closer which became a mudbath after being plagued by torrential rain.