SEVENTIES sentation 'The Three Degrees' and top chart bands 'The Honeyz' and 'Damage' are among the numerous stars lined up to appear at the First Aid Music Festival in Okehampton at the end of this month, the Okehampton Times can exclusively reveal.

The festival on May 25, 26 and 27 will be leading the regeneration of the West Country's economy in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis.

Sixty thousand people are expected to attend the event over the three days and other acts and celebrities booked so far include the multi- talented 'Rolf Harris' and his rock and roll band, 'Terravision', 'Finley Quaye', 'the London Community Gospel Choir' and the 'Hat Stand Opera Company.'

Money raised from the event will be ploughed back into the community which has been so badly hit by the foot and mouth crisis.

'It's going to be out of this world',' said the chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council Tim Jones, who is also a member of the Government's Rural Task Force.

'This will be biggest thing ever to happen to Okehampton and it has come about through the co-operation of everyone involved including West Devon Borough Council who have moved heaven and earth in respect of the licensing agreement and the South West Regional Development Agency who have put up much of the funding,' he said.

Tickets are now on sale for the festival in Simmons Park and special trains and coaches will be laid on to bring people into the town.

Other celebrities appearing will be Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers and Capital Gold DJ Paul Burnett and there will be entertainment for all the family throughout the weekend including a celebrity five-a-side football match.

Prince Charles' favourite singing trio and darlings of the charts in the 1970s 'The Three Degrees' will be flying in from their USA home to appear at the festival on the Saturday.

Mr Jones said from an idea which was first talked about a few weeks ago, the whole thing had snowballed and now it was like a fairytale.

'It really is amazing that something which would normally take at least six months to organise has been done in less than six weeks,' he said.

'Now we have our first big names confirmed for the festival we expect lots of media attention and things will just take off like a rollercoaster.'

The task force has been struggling to get the message through to the Treasury that direct support is needed for businesses affected by the foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Jones said something needed to be done urgently to fight back from this crisis and the people of Okehampton had risen to the challenge.

'The farmers are being compensated but that is only a small part of the problem,' he said. 'Businesses are suffering and they need help now.'

South West RDA chairman Sir Michael Lickiss said he was delighted the RDA was able to support this exciting event and he hoped everyone had a fantastic time.

'The last few months have been desperately bleak for the South West with the effects of foot and mouth touching everyone in the region, whether this be directly or indirectly,' he said.

'Bringing together a host of top musicians, the First Aid Festival will be an excellent way to boost people's spirits. It will help the economy of the South West, bringing in vital business to the region and supporting tourism — sending a positive message to the outside world that the region is most definitely open for business.'

Mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh said the commitment put in to arrange this festival in such a short space of time was unbelievable:

'The fact that we have got these top class acts coming to Okehampton is a reflection of the terrific amount of hard work that has been done,' she said.

The National Box Office telephone number for tickets is 01749 813899.

For residents of Okehampton and district only there is a special local box office number: 01837 53800.