A music festival started by a teaching assistant has donated its profits to two charities.

The Summer of Love and Music Festival (SOLAM), at the Lysley Arms, on the A4 between Chippenham and Calne last weekend, has so far raised more than £650 for Shelter, the homeless charity, and the HALO Trust, whose aim is to remove landmines and the debris of war.

The event was organised by John Leonard, who works at John Bentley School in Calne.

He said: “It all went really well and I was so pleased. We had 300 people on the Saturday to watch bands like Energy Without the Sun.

“The music on offer was really diverse, from folky stuff to the blues, and I think that was key to the festival’s success.”

John played a set with Grubby Jack on Saturday. “I play guitar, harmonica, piano, and I sing.

“As well as putting together the festival and working with children with special needs at the school, I sometimes teach guitar in the evenings. I’m quite involved with the local music scene. You get to meet other bands from just being out there gigging, and everyone was happy to help out with these charities.”

John is planning other festivals for charity, including Winter Long over the festive season.

Louise Parkes, Shelter director of fundraising, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the Summer of Love festival organiser John Leonard for the donation of £456.

“With more than a million children in overcrowded accommodation, tens of thousands of families homeless in temporary accommodation and many more facing repossession, our vital advice services are needed more than ever.”