THOUSANDS of country music lovers will be putting on their stetsons and cowboy boots and heading into town this weekend.

The Calne Country Music Festival will be hosted in the town at Beversbrook Fields on the bypass from Friday night until Sunday. The event, which is the only one of its kind in Wiltshire, is already sold out.

Texan fiddler John Permenter is back by popular demand and will headline the festival, which is in its 15th year. The weekend event attracts thousands of people from across the UK and this year festival organisers said people would be travelling from Europe to go to the event.

As well as raising funds for Calne Community Transport, the festival will this year share its profits to help a new southwest children's hospice near Bristol.

Other acts include Country Cattin, Dusty Rhodes Band, Fever and the John Douglas Band among others.

Attractions include western stalls, children's fancy dress, a disco, fast draw contest and a licensed bar and free camping and showers.

Over the years, the festival has grown from a modest one-day event into a full weekend programme featuring the best in country bands and attracting people from all over the country.

In recent years a re-enactment cowboy town has been built to house plays, along with performances from The Civil War Living History Society and children's activities arranged by local schools.

Advanced booking prices for the full weekend are adults £20, children £5 (Under tens free), senior citizens £15. A day pass is adults £10, children £2.50 and senior citizens £7.50

For further information contact Clem or Jean Smith on (01249) 812845.