The box office has opened for this year's Dereham Festival - and organisers have promised something for everyone.Events ranging from a showcase of local bands to a ceilidh and Winston the Singing Farmer are included in the programme, which runs from May 9-17.

The box office has opened for this year's Dereham Festival - and organisers have promised something for everyone.

Events ranging from a showcase of local bands to a ceilidh and Winston the Singing Farmer are included in the programme, which runs from May 9-17.

About 15,000 copies of the programme have been delivered to homes in the area, and tickets are expected to be in big demand.

On Saturday, committee members were in Nelson Place promoting the festival and giving away balloons to youngsters. Then the box office opened on Monday at Dereham Library.

Festival chairman Jim Stebbings said: “People are showing a lot of interest in the festival, and our motto is Something for Everyone.”

He said a special feature of the festival would be the marquee in the garden of the King's Head Hotel, providing a full programme of free entertainment through the week.

“Lots and lots of people are performing, and it will mean that something is happening all day, every day, and entry is free and adds a new dimension.”

Mr Stebbings said the festival had also been extended to feature events at Swanton Morley.

The marquee will be the destination of a parade headed by a jazz band which will march through the town on the morning of Saturday, May 10.

Programmes are available from various places in the town, including the Times office and Dereham Library. The festival website can be found at

www.derehamfestival.org.uk

The winner of the festival music competition on Saturday was Annie Brownfield-Pope, of Dereham, who identified 14 of the 15 musical figures correctly. She won £25 of festival tickets. In the pictures were: Gilbert and Sullivan, Geri Halliwell, the Andrews Sisters, Annie Lennox, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Matt Monro, Liberace, Elvis Presley, Artur Rubinstein, Val Doonican, Madonna, Shirley Jones, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Ball and Leona Lewis.