Thousands of music lovers packed a classical show-stopper when the annual Langtons summer concert returned to Hornchurch.

The Sunday festival with the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra was sold out with 2,000 tickets in the grounds of Langtons Gardens.

“It was a special atmosphere,” Havering Council leader Ray Morgon recalled. “The concert was a sell-out and provided a great sense of community.”

The orchestra actually performed at the first Langtons summer concert 25 years ago with a selection of classical favourites.

The June 11 event was managed and run by Havering Council and supported by event sponsors like funeral directors West and Coe in Hornchurch and Dagenham and solicitors Mullis and Peake in Shenfield, as well as Friends of Langtons Estate.

The historic Langtons is a grade II-listed 18th century house used as Havering’s main register office which were the headquarters of the old Hornchurch Council from 1929 to 1965.

It dates back to 1776 when it was owned by the MP John Mayor who established HM Stationery Office.