Young people from north Wiltshire's youth theatre ActNoW opened Corsham Festival on Saturday with two pieces of street theatre.

The youngest group performed in the graveyard opposite Somerfield, a mystery play about strange goings on in a museum.

An older group performed The Waiters, in the High Street, involving passing shoppers in their play.

The rain held off, just, for the two performances which attracted sizeable crowds.

Ian Martin, the festival's general manager, said: "We've had a brilliant start to the festival. Tickets are selling well. The Monday evening concert by Stringfever, sold out early on. There are tickets for most the events later in the week.

"We had about 20 local musicians join CoMA (Contemporary Music for Amateurs) for an all-day workshop on Sunday, culminating in a concert in the evening. We were very pleased with the number of people who took part ."

"The weather could be better, but at least we are not suffering from Glastonbury mud."

The only glitch so far is that a late night concert by singer-composer Errollyn Wallen in the Town Hall on Saturday had to be cancelled because the singer was ill.

The High Street and the Town Hall are decorated with colourful and flamboyant sculptures made by schoolchildren as part of the ArtsNoW contemporary arts festival earlier in the month.

Still to come in the festival is An Evening With Albert Einstein, this evening, Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan, two music workshops on Saturday, The Smith Quartet on Saturday evening and the finale with Brazilian quartet, Caratinga.