THE popular annual Hatherleigh Festival is facing a change this year — and so far, feedback has been positive to the new-style event.

The festival, one of the longest running arts festivals in the county, is normally held around the second weekend in July but this year, the organising committee has decided on a change.

The event, the 14th festival, is to be staged on May 22 and 23, Bank Holiday weekend.

Claire Gladstone, festival co-ordinator for the last nine years, said: 'It's a trial run for this year.

'We decided on the change, more than anything because of the competition from other things happening in the area during the same time.

'We don't think there's so much going on in our area over that Bank Holiday weekend, and given the current financial situation, we thought it might be good to scale it back a little bit, to three days rather than four.

'It's a going back to basics festival this year and will probably have more of a local theme. It will still be really good fun and be really good quality, just a day shorter and on a different date.'

Claire said questionnaires have been sent out to residents and the response to the new date had been 'very positive'. Suggestions received will all be taken on board by the committee.

'Obviously some people would rather it stayed in July, but a lot seem to think the new date is really worth a try,' said Claire.

'We've already got a couple of amazing acts booked up — there's a brilliant, hilarious line up on the Saturday, a sort of variety comedy cabaret — we've already got a couple of classical concerts lined up and there will be loads going on.

'We are really going to make the most of the Saturday, which will be mainly at the community centre.'

Although Claire is co-ordinating this year's festival, she has announced that she will be standing down in the future.

'I just feel it's probably time someone new took it on, and I took more of a back seat. This will be my tenth year as co-ordinator, I've loved every minute of it and I don't want to leave, I just want to do a bit less,' said Claire.

'I've got other things I'd like to do and it does take quite a bit of time.'

Claire said 'a new pair of eyes and some fresh faces' could be just what the festival needed to move the popular event forward.

Anyone interested in joining Hatherleigh Festival Committee is very welcome — call the festival office on 01837 811116 to find out more.