ORGANISERS are expecting more than 13,000 people to cram into Lydiard Park this weekend for the revived Wiltshire Festival.

Promoter Neil Cooper, who lives in Minety, has been keeping a wary eye on the weather all week. He expects to see more than 3,000 people at tomorrow night's Classical Picnic and Proms, which is being sponsored by the Gazette and Herald, and 10,000 pop fans to see headliners Blue and Jamelia at Saturday night's Party in the Park.

Mr Cooper said the scene is already being set for one of Wiltshire's biggest events.

He said: "The stage is already being set up. It started being built on Monday. There are lorryloads of equipment coming in and there's one and a half kilometres of fencing going in and a 15 metre wide stage."

Mr Cooper said the events will go ahead whatever the weather.

"People are telling me that Saturday is going to be the best day of the week,'' he said.

"No matter what the weather the show will go on. It doesn't stop them at Glastonbury from having fun and it will be just a fun, wet party."

Mr Cooper said ticket sales are going well. He is hoping a break in the weather, only light showers are forecast for Friday and Saturday, will swell the numbers.

"Considering the weather we are doing really, really well. People have clearly been waiting to see how the weather's going to be.

"We had so many sales when we first announced the bands that we are expecting around 10,000 people to be there. If the weather is good we top 10,000 for the Party in the Park."

More groups have been added to both events in the last few weeks, which has led to an earlier start time.

Mr Cooper believes both groups will appeal to their audiences: "We have extended the performances at the Proms because we have added Duel so they kick it off in the evening at 7pm.

"We have really invested in a top classical artist. They were number one in the classical album charts.

"It's like Bond who are eye candy for the guys. These two are Armani suits, young and good-looking guys that I am sure the girls will like.

Bristol band Mirima, likened to Coldplay and Travis, have also been added to the Party in the Park.

"We have also extended the Party in the Park. The music may start around four o'clock now so people need to get there nice and early.

"There's a lot of live performances with live bands. It's like a variation of something you would see in Wembley."

Friday night will see the English National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jae Alexander take the stage along with guest tenor Ted Jackson, from Channel Four's Operatunity programme, and former BBC Choirgirl of the Year Sarah Ryan before the sky is lit up with a firework finale.

Saturday sees the turn of the pop contingent with boy band Blue, Jamelia, Darius, Mirima, new girl group The 411, Freefaller, POP and The Commitments, introduced by GWR FM's Howard Taylor.

Mr Cooper said: "The emphasis this year has been investing in acts.

"I don't want to personally draw the comparisons with Bowood but we have got a full size orchestra and Duel and with the Party in the Park you won't get bigger bands than The 411, Blue, Jamelia and The Commitments.

"When I speak to people in their thirties or forties they are like you've got The Commitments there. That's great."

Jamelia's single Superstar was one of the biggest hits of last year and sold 200,000 copies in the UK alone and fans also get a chance to see chart-topping boy band Blue perform a one-hour live show. The Commitments will be flying in from Dublin to play in the Party in the Park with the highly entertaining 9 piece Irish band guaranteed to lift the crowd with famous songs such as Mustang Sally and In The Midnight Hour.

The 411 have recently enjoyed a huge hit with their debut single On My Knees and released their new single Dumb this week and Freefaller are a high energy band likened to Busted who have been touring with Blue this summer.

Mr Cooper said he cannot wait to see the audiences faces: "I am looking forward to seeing the faces on the crowd when Blue come on and see them playing live and seeing a lot of people coming in an enjoying it and it being the highlight of their summer."

Tickets are available from the Oasis Leisure Centre and the Link Centre in Swindon, GWR's reception and the Tourist Information Centres in Swindon, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Cirencester until the gates open at 5pm on Friday and at 2pm on Saturday.

Tickets are available for £25 for the Classical Proms and £35 for the Party In The Park at the gate.

Performances start at 7pm on Friday and 4pm on Saturday.