THE ECONOMIC climate may have caused the cancellation of some of this year's large festival events but the Whiteford three-day music spectacular near Stoke Climsland looks set to pull in the crowds once again.

This will be the ninth open air festival set in the grounds of Whiteford House, which each year raises around £8,000 for the parish church. It will include a summer swing big band extravaganza, a full orchestral proms narrated by actor and TV personality Christopher Biggins and dramatic firework display and a family chill out afternoon with music and circus skills.

The festival runs from July 17 to 19 and Kathryn Carnegie from the Friends of Stoke Climsland Parish Church said it was a chance for the community to enjoy themselves: 'We are aware that some events like this have been cancelled because of the recession but this is run by the community for the community and it is even more important in this economic climate that it goes ahead.

'We have kept the prices low so everyone can come and have a good time.'

In 2007 the Whiteford Festival won a national competition to find the most innovative church fundraising idea. It began as a small event to raise funds for the church roof and now regularly attracts audiences of more than 2,000 people.

Top UK vocalist Bobby Kemp will be performing with his band on the Friday night within the arched auditorium, and there will be a bar and barbecue. The Radio Light Orchestra will be joined by choristers from Truro Cathedral and the Liskerret Male Voice Choir on the Saturday evening and Christopher Biggins will narrate Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

The family chill out on Sunday features Black Jack Davey and his band Wylde Green who are back by popular demand. This event is free to children aged 10 and under.

This year the festival is supporting the 30th anniversary of the Unicef Year of the Child and children will feature in the musical performances — pupils of Stoke Climsland Primary School will be performing songs from Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat — and there will be face painting and other stalls featuring children's charities. The local scouts will also be transporting people's picnics in wheelbarrows from the car park to the venue.

To find out more or book tickets go online at: http://www.whitefordfestival.co.uk">www.whitefordfestival.co.uk or telephone 01579 370559. Tickets are also available at Stoke Climsland Post Office.