Folk fans determined to see Steeleye Span in Chippenham in May will need to be by their telephone or computer on Saturday.

Tickets for the band that will headline this year’s Chippenham Folk Festival on May 30 go on sale at 10am at £16 each.

Only 200 of the 600 spaces will be sold to people buying tickets just for this performance. The other 400 spaces will be kept for people buying weekend passes for the festival.

But organiser Bob Berry stresses that even if fans miss out on the top name act there will be more than 200 other acts over the weekend.

Mr Berry said: “We are anticipating the band will be hugely popular. The system will be that people can either make a booking over the telephone or email in to reserve their tickets. Holders of festival tickets for the whole weekend will get their Steeleye Span tickets for free, but they still have to reserve their place.”

The band performed at the first Folk Festival, and is returning as the event reaches its 40th year.

Lines and email will be open from 10am to 8pm this Saturday and 10am till 6pm on Sunday. Call 07526 444784, 07526 444507, 07526 444454 or 07714 550990 for tickets.

Email applications will be accepted at: steel@chippfolk.co.uk.

Calls from Monday will revert to (01249) 657190.

Weekend tickets bought before April 31 will cost £78, £39 for children aged ten to 15 years, and under tens free.

On May 1 the price goes up to £88 for adults and £44 for children.