SITE preparations for this weekend's Chagstock 2011 International Music and Arts Festival are well underway.

The 35-acre site near Whiddon Down will be transformed into the main festival area thanks to the help of more than 30 workers and festival founder Simon Ford. Marquees, stages and lighting gantries were among the first pieces of equipment to be put up.

Before the event begins tomorrow (Friday), almost two miles of fencing, ticket offices, toilets, kitchens and showers are to be constructed.

Simon, who started the festival in 2007 in his own back garden, said: 'This is the hard part, a team of us will be working around the clock to put this together.

'The start of the week was cold and rainy when the first of the equipment came in.

'The roadway has to be put down and it is backbreaking work and we all got soaked, but we are looking forward to a bright sunny weekend.'

Simon recently donated fifty tickets to the festival to the Okehampton Foodbank, who have allocated the tickets to those under the strain of the recession.

Simon said: 'Okehampton people have had a difficult year with factories like Polestar and Robert Wiseman closing, and with Kerry Ingredients looking to relocate in a few months, we thought a day out for people would be something they could look forward to.'

Headlining acts at the festival include Magic Numbers, 3 Daft Monkeys and Bellowhead.

In previous years, bands such as Squeeze, the Hoosiers and Ade Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds have played at Chagstock.

There will be other activities and facilities on offer during the event, including workshops, shopping outlets, bars and a village shop.

The event runs from tomorrow until Sunday. Single-day tickets will be available for Friday and Saturday.

Camping and parking at the event are free. For more information, go to http://www.chagstock.info">www.chagstock.info