Want to get involved in the arts festival?

THERE's a special meeting in Okehampton next week for anyone who would like to get involved in organising the town's Arts Festival for 2001.

This summer's festival was a great success, but arranged by a small team of helpers.

Mandy Kenyon said: 'The team requests that everyone thinks back to the summer when they were singing along with The Hard Place Band and Georgie Fame, admiring the paintings of local artists or dancing the night away in Simmons Park.

'For the festival to continue it is absolutely essential that more people come forward to help.'

The team members are hoping to form a new committee of core organisers, each to be responsible for a certain event or task.

That responsible person will need a team of helpers to ensure everything runs smoothly and that no-one has too much to do.

Mandy said meetings are run informally but in a business-like way and are scheduled to suit members' commitments.

Next year's festival is due to take place between July 16 and 22. Call 01837 53276 or 01837 55611 for further information.