THE dates for this year's Lymm Festival have been changed in a bid to encourage more young people to take part.

The festival will run from Saturday, June 29 until Sunday, July 7, in order to avoid the busy exam period for schools.

Honor Giles, last year's festival director, has been invited to continue her role, and she is delighted that she will be working with the same team as before, as well as one or two new members who have joined the committee.

She said: "As well as having many familiar features of the festival in the way of concerts, exhibitions, dance and drama presentations and so on, we are also building on the success of two of the new events from last year.

"These were the street fun and food fest, and the picnic at Lymm Hall. These were great favourites and we look forward to putting them on again."

The festival committee is currently working on several new ideas, including a combined photographic and creative writing project, a multi-entertainment and discovery day at Lymm Dam, and a children's fun day at Ridgeway Grundy Park.

"Most of these plans depend on being able to raise the necessary funding to be able to include them in the programme," said Honor.

Anyone interested in helping in the festival, or helping with events, can call Honor on 758856.