THE North Wiltshire Festival will be held again in two years.

But there could be an end to the free concert nights with admission charges helping to pay for the festival.

North Wiltshire District Council decided at a meeting on Tuesday to stage the event, which this year attracted 120,000 visitors to Chippenham in July.

The next festival will be held on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in July 2002, rather than on the usual Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Programmes for the three-day festival will cost 50p and the district council hopes most of the rest of a £55,000 to £77,000 outlay earmarked to underwrite the cost of the event, will be recouped through sponsorship.

No decision has yet been made on whether to charge for entry. The majority of councillors are opposed to the idea.

Coun John Thomson was one of those in favour of charging admission, because he claimed the council had under-budgeted for the festival. He said it would cost £10,000 more than has been put aside. "They could charge £2.50 entry to the concert and give 50p to charity, with a significant amount left over to go towards costs," he said.

Coun Doreen Darby said: "I agree the programmes should be sold, but we should not charge to get in to the concert. This is a festival for all the people of North Wiltshire."

Coun Ruth Coleman said: "We are confident that we want another festival for the people of North Wiltshire and the amount we have put aside will be enough to underwrite the cost of the event," she said. The council also hopes to attract funding from other councils in the area.

Councillors unanimously voted to hold the event in two years' time.

"It was such a success this year that it is important we make a decision now so we can begin organising the next one," said Coun Roy Jackson.

Coun Toby Sturgis welcomed efforts to involve more people from villages across the district.

He said improvements should be made to bus services into Chippenham, as these had not been adequate for this year's festival fans. "It's a good festival and we need to involve people from the villages," he said.

Festival organisers said there had been positive feedback about this year's festival, but many people had asked for the festival to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.