MARLBOROUGH's annual International Jazz Festival has won the reputation of being one of the best in the country.

Co-ordinator Nick Fogg, who founded the festival in 1986, says it is the biggest event of its kind in the country.

Stroller tickets, that enable holders to get into most of the events apart from some of the major concerts, are a major attraction.

The tickets allow the holders attend any number of concerts at the many venues in the town.

Uniquely, too, the punters are invited to vote for who they think was the best act of the festival. The 2004 winner of the Deacon's Cup was the Bath based singer Clare Teal who was just celebrating a multi million dollar recording contract.

Jazz festival events are held at numerous venues in the town including the town hall, pubs, clubs, hotels, bandstands, the town's fire station and a marquee.

Some of the best loved names in jazz and blues have appeared at Marlborough over the years: Jools Holland, Alan Price, Acker Bilk, Elkie Brooks, Pete Allen, and Geno Washington to name a few.