GREAT chances to party are being organised to celebrate the new Millennium in Tavistock next year.

Tavistock 2000 involves two separate events, ensuring a wide range of musical tastes will be catered for.

They are being masterminded by a group of local organisations, including Tavistock Rotary, the 31 Club, and Round Table, with any profits benefiting local charities.

January 8 is the first date for the diary, when a collection of local groups will perform in the town's Pannier Market.

Popular band Rootjoose will be joined by Fruitmoose, the Bus Station Loonies and Hatstand.

David Glover, secretary of the committee organising the events, said: 'It's going great guns. It's all live music, that's the important thing. There's no disco filling in the gaps.'

Food is being provided in the form of hot dogs and fast food stalls and there will be a bar.

Tickets for the concert on January 8 will be on sale from November 1 at Red Planet in Paddon's Row at a price of approximately £5.

A more formal event in the shape of a town hall ball is planned for the spring.

The popular Mercer Evans Big Band will headline the evening, supported by local band The Blitz, which in its heyday supported top groups in the sixties like Procol Harum, The Tremeloes and The Nashville Teens.

Still going strong, The Blitz plays at many charity events in the area.

'We've £2,000 worth of bands — it's really going to be something,' said Mr Glover.

There will be a buffet supper supplied at the ball which will be included in the price of the ticket.