AN appeal has been launched to attract more patrons for Calne's annual music and arts festival to help secure the future of the popular annual event.

The eight-day festival, which is held in October, offers a wide variety of top-class musical acts originating from Calne and the surrounding villages, including classical, jazz, folk and choral. There are also art exhibitions and workshops, plays and talks.

The festival, which celebrates its 29th anniversary this year, already has 200 patrons who pay an annual subscription of £10 or £5 for students and pensioners.

But organisers say they want to boost numbers to 300 to make the festival financially viable and prevent an increase in subscription costs.

The festival's treasurer has launched the campaign with a competition offering a free pass for every event at the 2003 festival to the person who can attract the most new patrons.

Carole Browne, a committee member of the Calne Music and Arts Festival, said: "It's always good to have younger people and fresh faces because so many patrons are decidedly middle aged.

"Patrons get a very good deal and they get free lunchtime concerts."

Mrs Browne said the main cost of the festival is hiring the performers and the halls, which cannot be covered by ticket sales on their own.

She said the programme of events for this year's was progressing well. For more information about the competition ring Dawn Straker-Cook on (01249) 812582 .