CHIPPENHAM Community Arts Festival has been taken over by Chippenham FM and will be extended to 10 days this summer.

The community internet radio station has rebranded the festival of music, arts and drama as ChippFest and has arranged 30 diverse acts in more than 20 venues, to run from June 26 to July 5.

Brian Reid, Chippenham FM’s Mr Mojo, said: “We want to make sure everyone feels welcome and there’s something for everyone. There’s so much going on in this town that’s a secret and it doesn’t need to be.”

Acts include poetry, one act plays, a panel of ‘Looser Women’, an open air dance event, a new Kandu Arts film, comedy with Wil Hodgson’s Records on the Roof and Brian Reid making his debut as a stand-up, Chippenham Male Voice Choir and Susan Sharp singing The Great American Songbook.

There will be the chance to get involved, with workshops in poetry, drumming, storytelling, folk songs, art, dance and improvisation.

At a ChippFest launch presentation at Munro’s Cafe on Monday, (MAR 30) fellow organiser and Chippenham FM presenter Andy Thatcher said: “It started five years ago with a few events in the Neeld Hall run by the council.

"Last year was three days and we got involved on the last day doing a five hour show in Revolutions. The organisers said, it’s just too much for us, and so we said we’d take it over.”

Mr Reid, who is also vice president of the Winkle Club, added: “The whole point is to have room to breathe and grow. There’s no point doing all this work just to do it once, it’s to make it sustainable. The council need to know there’s a demand for locally sourced entertainment."

Rockin The Park in John Coles Park on Saturday July 4, 2-9pm, will combine the official opening of the splash pad with face painting, a hog roast and the Winkle Club stocks as well as 10 music acts – The Hot Club, Dirty 6, Mick O’Toole, Dead Pheasants, Triple JD Band, Benji & Hibbz, Basement 83, Jarid Clark and Izzy Felstead.

“For people around John Coles Park worried about possible intrusion, quite frankly it’s one weekend of the year. Book a show, go away, or come along and get involved,” said Mr Reid.

Mr Thatcher said: “We’re not applying for a licence, it is a family fun day.

“As many events as possible will be free, half a dozen events may be up to £5.” Surplus funds will go to Doorway and Dorothy House Hospice.

The event needs volunteers for security, litter, stewarding and publicity. Anyone who would like to help can email info@chippfest.org