ORGANISERS of Ingleton Folk Festival are staging a fundraising weekend.

The event will take place next Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28, with all proceeds going to fund the main festival in October.

The festivities will get under way with an open session and singaround in the Wheatsheaf Hotel, on Main Street, from 7pm next Friday.

All are welcome and there is no admission charge although collection boxes will circulate for contributions.

Next Saturday, two "Hiring Fairs" will take place - the first is at the Wheatsheaf from noon to 6pm and the second one is in the Ex-Servicemen's Club from 7pm to midnight. Again, there is no charge for admission, but contributions will be sought.

There are 22 acts booked and each changeover will be filled with rousing unaccompanied songs by a group of shanty singers.

And, from the line-up, organisers will choose who will go forward to the main festival in October.

Festival spokesman Jeff Wright said: "Of the 22 acts, 14 will be selected, by committee voting totals, to be offered paid bookings for the main folk festival from October 2 to 4."

The performers include Dial, Fiddlyn Man Doris, The 3 Jayz, Peter Taylor, The Well Dressed Gentlemen, Jack Pybus, Didikai, Bandersnatch, Karin Grandal-Park and Rosie Clegg, The Ginjammers, Zeke Deighton, Brillig, Strings and Swings, Lowtown Blues, Celia Ketchall, Martin Francis and Paul Morris, Dogwatch, Amy Rose Atkinson, Bill Adair, Nick Brooker, Errol and Lesley Kirkpatrick and Dogwood Rose.

The organisers are expecting a good turnout and special permission has been obtained for motorhomes and caravans to park in the "buses only" areas of the community centre car park. These are towards the Hawes Road end of the site.