Chandler's Ford is to be the summertime setting for a music and arts festival.

One of the major attractions will be a two-week period of special events, including a concert by the Eastleigh Areas Schools Orchestra with the Bournemouth Symphony at the new Thornden Hall.

A 'try the arts' day and the chance for young people and local bands to perform at a special gig is also being planned. There will also be professional concerts and workshops.

The festival package is being put together as a community event. The Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury local area committee has already enlisted the help of the borough's newly-appointed music development officer, Bridget Whyte, to prepare some proposals.

She said: "The main focus of the event will be participation and encouraging people to take part in the festival either as an organiser, performer, exhibitor, a participant at workshops or as a member of the audience."

The decision to stage a festival next summer follows the success of this year's Hiltingbury Extravaganza and information gathered from an arts audit carried out by the borough's arts unit.

This revealed the wish among local artists, musicians and dancers for an event at which the community would have a chance to showcase their talents.

Local area committee chairman Godfrey Olson says: "We want to build on the success of the fun days we have held in the past and the extravaganza we held in September. We also want to take advantage of the magnificent new Thornden Hall which will be opening early in 2003."