Malmesbury is putting on its own music festival for up to 3,000 visitors, following the unexpected success of a much small event last year.

Heading the festival, part of the Party in the Park at St Aldhelm’s Mead, are singer songwriter Sandi Thom and Glastonbury performer Jon Allen.

The music festival follows the success of six bands playing outdoors in the cloisters in the abbey grounds at last year’s carnival.

Director Chris Davey said: “We were amazed by the number of people who turned up. We only expected about 300 but more than 800 came.”

He added: “When you step over the 500 people mark, you become the subject to the same licensing restrictions as WOMAD and Glastonbury.

“That makes the whole event a lot more expensive with things like security and health and safety.

“So to make sure the event was a success we decided to go for it and make it really significant.”

Mr Davey said it was a coup for the town to have secured acts of the calibre of Thom, whose debut album topped the charts in 2006, and rising star Allen.

He said the bands’ managers had been very impressed with the carnival and the town’s community spirit.”

The music takes place on the nights of August 29 and 30 while the Party in the Park continues with family fun on the Monday August 31.

To encourage local people to come, residents with the postcode SN16 can buy tickets for August 29 for £25 instead of £32.50.

On August 29, gates open at 2pm with music from 6pm till midnight. On August 30 gates open at noon with music from 2pm, tickets £8 or £20 for a family.

Book at www.ticketweb.co.uk, call 08444 77 1000 or call in at Malmesbury Rocks, High Street. More details at www.malmesburycarnival.co.uk/party