Calne Music and Arts Festival was praised by the Master of the Queen’s Music this week following the first seven days of music and art in the town.

Judith Weir, Professor of Composition at Cardiff University, opened the festival a week ago today, 37 years after her first invitation to work at the festival.

On her website she wrote: “I tend to think of the last 40 years as being increasingly strained for the arts, so it was great to see this home-grown event thriving.

“They have clearly discovered that the key to a good festival is quality artistic events with a local handle.”

The festival got underway with an opening art exhibition at Marden House and a performance of the musical Our Town by John Bentley School together with members of the community.

Further events will take place in the next four days.

For more information and tickets visit www.cmaf.org.uk