IT was rock and goal on the Isle of Wight this weekend. Blazing sunshine and a top quality line-up of acts, plus England's crunch football match against France, made this year's huge Isle of Wight music festival a weekend to remember.

An estimated 35,000-strong crowd invaded Newport's Seaclose Park for three days to listen some of the most famous names in rock.

But even legendary pop shape shifter David Bowie had to bow to England's obsession with football.

The star bowed to the inevitable as thousands of festival goers watched modern day icon David Beckham and the England team take on soccer aristocrats France.

A giant TV screen was put up in the park so the fans could watch the game while Bowie took to the stage.

The massive festival attracted a multigenerational crowd of music lovers from across the world, as well as 8,000 island residents.

Granddads mixed with toddlers to see veteran rockers The Who finish off Saturday night's show with a storming performance.

Lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townsend joked with the huge crowd about the last time they had been on the Island in 1970.

They then reprised a string of hits including My Generation and a medley of songs from the rock operas Quadrophenia and Tommy.

Earlier on Saturday the current generation of stars including Aussie punks Jet and Welsh icons the Manic Street Preachers performed before the vast crowd - many of whom were waving England flags.

For those wanting to escape the arena, Southampton based drinks company Bacardi set up the ''B-Bar'', where top quality London DJ's such as Stuart Patterson, Ross Allen and Phil Asher, served up a mix of hip-hop and funk.

If that was not enough, hundreds of festival goers made their way to the fun fair on the site where an enormous big wheel and a hair-raising bungee-ride entertained the crowds.

Annie Horne, managing director of Isle of Wight Leisure, predicted that the festival would make £1.5m for council coffers by 2012. She added that 10,000 extra festival goers could be accommodated at Seaclose Park next year.

Police say that the amount of arrests this year have been minimal.

Inspector Mike Ross of the Island's police force, said that the trouble had been less that would be expected on a normal Saturday night in Newport. He said: ''It's been brilliant. I can count the number of arrests on one hand.''

Thousands of festival goers are expected to return to the mainland today.

Red Funnel Ferries say that all sailings from the island to the mainland are booked solid until late today.