OKEHAMPTON Arts Festival is on a roll and going with swing, according to the organising committee this week.

The week-long festival kicked off on Saturday with writers' workshops, a family play day and a unique performance by the Ten Tors Orchestra at the town's All Saints Church.

Mandy Kenyon, committee secretary, said: 'It was fantastic, extremely well supported. They did a first-ever performance of the strings version of New Dawn-Dartmoor Sunrise which was specially scored for the festival by Roger Bolton.'

Mandy said so far many events have been very well supported.

'Generally people have been really enthusiastic and amazed something like this is happening in Okehampton.

'So far the weather hasn't made a difference — but the committee are sun-dancing and keeping their fingers crossed for the Party in the Park on Saturday!'

On Monday, the Saamis-teen Girls' Choir from the city of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, pulled out all the stops at a performance in Fairplace Church.

The 45-strong choir are touring extensively and came to Okehampton fresh from a two-day Festival of Voices at Wembley.

Committee member Sidney Thompson said: 'I think people have been staggered we've managed to get people like this in Okehampton.

'People were quite in awe, they were all dressed in black with coloured sequins — they looked really good.'

Mr Thompson said the committee had 'gone out on a limb' this year.

'We've really tried to bring something more professional to the town. We need to build on the success of this year to something even better next year.'

Tonight (Thursday) an event billed as 'one of the most spectacular in Okehampton's history' will be staged, as Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames supported by the Hard Place Band, perform at Okehampton College Sports Hall.

The action continues with Hannah and the Madding Crowd in the Charter Hall tomorrow (Friday).

Saturday sees the Party in the Park take off, an outdoor event at Okehampton College. It includes another performance by the Hard Place Band, Chimanimani, Maggie Readay, the College Big Band, NRG and exciting 50s style rhythm and blues band The Nightporters.

The festival closes on Sunday with a gospel service at Fairplace Church and a folk event at the Plymouth Inn.

Tickets for all events are available on the door or at one of six box offices in the town.

l Festival pictures and a report will appear in next week's Times.