A JAZZ enthusiast has pulled out all the stops to organise his life-long dream -- a huge Preston music festival.

Brian Gumbley, from Fulwood, runs a series of local music nights known as Feast of Jazz.

Now the jazz-man has enlisted the help of businesses and the county council to take his musical feast to a bigger audience, through the 2002 Jazz Festival.

He said: "It's been extremely hard to get this up-and-running. The main problem has been apathy. People have got doubts about supporting something like this. I want to prove it can be good for the future of the town."

Brian hopes the week-long festival will see people flock from all over the county and together with his festival committee he is bringing local talent and famous names together. Fans might recognise Stacey Kent from the USA, George Melley, and John Chilton and his Feet Warmers.

Brian said: "We'll be showcasing all the different types of jazz, from Big Band to individuals and trios to funk, fusion and Dixie Land. One of our committee put forward £750 to bring Toni Jannotta over from America! She sings modern jazz in the style of John Coltrane."

The festival runs from Tuesday, October 1-6, at five main venues -- St George's Church in Lune Street, Roper Hall, Friargate, St Peter's Arts Centre, Fylde Road, Grasshoppers Rugby Club, Lightfoot Lane, and the Marriot Hotel, Broughton.

Tickets are £27 to £35 a week, and will be available by sending a SAE to Feast of Jazz, 12 Churchfield, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8GS, from next month.

For more information call or fax 712861.