THE organisers of the Great Cheverell Soapbox Derby are not holding the event this year but have organised a beer and music festival to raise money for charity.

The madcap soapbox derby was last held in 2012 and the committee plan to bring it back next year.

Pete Andrew, on the organising committee, said: “The pub (The Bell) has sold part of its garden where we have a marquee and live bands performing so we are re-thinking our strategy. We would like the derby to start from outside the pub and we are probably looking at setting the entertainment up at the Pavilion, probably in conjunction with the pub. The derby is still an event we want to put on.”

The soapbox derby raises money for charity and despite no derby being held last year, the committee raised £8,000 by holding events including a ball at Dauntsey’s School. The bulk of the money went to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Dorothy House plus organisations in Great Cheverell.

In 2011 the committee held a music festival and this Sunday the committee is putting on a beer and cider festival at the Pavilion from 4pm to late. There will be eight beers and three ciders, a barbecue and six live bands ranging from folk, rap, grunge, hip hop, reggae, ska, pop and rock.

Entry is £2 and all the profits will go to Dorothy House Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.