LUCIANO Pavarotti is set to top the bill at a six-day military-themed extravaganza at Kemble Airfield.

If the organisers have their way, and North Wiltshire District Council grants a licence, he will be on a bill featuring everything from opera to parachute displays in a celebration running from August 13 to 18.

There will be seating for 35,000, standing room for thousands more and even a free park and ride scheme to keep traffic problems to a minimum.

Organiser Peter Williams, 43, is a retired paratrooper and Falk-lands veteran who runs London-based company UK Event Management.

His previous organisational experience includes parachute displays over the French coast to commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

He said: "It is going to be a six-day event.

"The last three days Monday to Wednesday will be a military music festival aimed mainly at service personnel and their wives, although members of the public will be welcome."

North Wiltshire District Council will decide at a forthcoming meeting whether to grant an entertainment licence.

If it does, Mr Williams says, the celebration will definitely go ahead. Other attractions are set to include:

Skydiving demonstrations by the Parachute Regiment's Red Devils and the RAF's Falcons

An appearance by the Naval Gun Display Teams. The men involved are veterans of the race event beloved of audiences at the now-defunct Royal Tournament, in which teams compete to move a heavy field gun over an obstacle course

Recruiting information from all three Armed Services, including specialist advice from the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines

Paintball competitions

Classical and military music from stars belonging to the Universal Classics stable, which handles public appearances by several big names, including Pavarotti himself.

Mr Williams said the opera star has agreed to attend. If he does he will perform a year after he and fellow tenors, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, gave a reunion concert at Bath's Royal Crescent.

Some of the proceeds of the six days will be distributed among three military charities the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families' Association, the Falk-lands Veterans, Foundation, and the British Forces' Foundation.

Between them, these charities look after the interests of serving and former forces personnel.

Mr Williams' firm, conscious of potential traffic congestion, is planning to arrange temporary park and ride centres near South Cerney and Hullavington, with up to 70 coaches available.

Kemble Airfield, is a former RAF base and has been a venue for air shows, as well as being a centre for flight training and various businesses.