THE date has been fixed for Worcester to host its very own festival next year.

Following the end of this year's Three Choirs Festival and Fringe Festival, organisers have announced the Worcester Festival will be held between Saturday, August 9 and Monday, August 25, next year.

At a meeting earlier this year it was decided Huntingdon Hall would take responsibility for the overall organisation of the festival and is now accepting events to register.

Huntingdon Hall will also act as the festival's box office.

"Huntingdon Hall will be running professional events as well as other organisers showcasing local talent," said Chris Jaeger, the director of the festival.

The Worcester Festival will operate differently from this year's Fringe Festival in which more than 350 events were spread over three months.

Mr Jaeger said next year's festival will be much more compact and "focused".

"Huntingdon Hall would be able to organise a few events to plug the gaps, but maybe there will be masses of events and there will be no gaps to fill," said Mr Jaeger.

All festival event organisers will have to pay a registration fee of between £20 and £50 for each date booked which will go towards the cost of producing a brochure.

"The level of the fee will be discussed when the registration form is received at the hall," said Mr Jaeger.

"But, roughly speaking, if you are a small event it will be £20, if you are a big event it will be £50, if you are a medium event, somewhere in between.

"We are currently looking for sponsorship for the opening, the brochure, children's events and the finale," said Mr Jaeger.

A full launch of the festival is planned to be held early in the New Year.