A WEEK-LONG extravaganza of music and art is set to take the Ribble Valley by storm again as the annual Ribchester Festival gets underway this weekend.

A full programme packed with international musicians and local celebrities comes under the conductor's baton tomorrow, and the 1996 event promises to be even bigger and better than previous successful years.

Historic St Wilfrid's Church in the village provides the stage for the majority of events during the festival.

Highlights include a production of Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte" performed by the Goldberg Festival Opera.

There's a special "4th of July" concert featuring the Camerata wind soloists in a programme of works by Scott Joplin, Hammerstein and Gerschwin.

The festival was the brainchild of the former Rector of St Wilfrid's, Rev Andrew Hindley, who has since moved on to pastures new as Canon Sacrist at Blackburn Cathedral.

But an enthusiastic band of organisers and music lovers have taken on the good work he began to produce a programme this year which is sure to attract concert-goers from all over the country.

Bookings and further details about the festival can be obtained by contacting: 01254 878416.

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