LYDNEY is all set to have an even bigger, brighter fun festival than last year's event in July – all kicked off by a church choir and bell ringing event.

From then on things are set to slide into mayhem and fun with Jazz in the Park, a biathlon at Bathurst Pool, a multi-sport competition and renewable energy demonstrations to tie in with the Lydney Local Power Project and Whitecross School's bid for engineering status.

There will be an open day at Lydney Yacht Club and an art exhibition at the Coop County Store, and the events coincide with Whitecross School Fair, Forest Open Studios, dancing through the Dean, Aylburton Carnival and Lydney Hospital Fete.

The festival concept is part of the town's community strategic plan, which has the motto Turning the Tide at Lydney.

The plan stressed the importance of creating an event which celebrates the town's heritage, strong sporting traditions and links to the River Severn as part of its regeneration process.

Festival treasurer Alison Bruce said: "This is just the beginning of what we hope will become an established event in Lydney.

"We are urging anyone who is able to contribute in any way to attend the meetings we hold regularly and get involved.

"We are specifically looking for help from the local sports clubs to get the sports competition up and running.

"The more people we have involved in the festival the more spectacular the event will be."