TENBURY Festival is to be re-launched this year and will be held in conjunction with the town's Applefest to maximise interest and get the town "buzzing".

The festival was last held in 2004 and has been running on a bi-annual basis. After a major rethink, it is hoped it will run every year in October at the same time as the Applefest.

Anita Stanley, chair of Tenbury Festival Committee, said talks with officers from Malvern Hills District Council, who organised the Applefest, had been very positive.

"We decided it would be good to link up with the Applefest so our festival has more of a focus," she said. "It's exciting as the Applefest organisers are very keen and have a lot of good ideas."

Anita said the added support of the council would also help promote the festival.

"This means we are not on our own trying to drum up support for five or six days' entertainment and it means there will also be more to do for people visiting the Applefest," she said.

Manda Graham, the council's arts development officer, believes the link-up will be mutually beneficial.

"Music was something we wanted to provide at last year's Applefest and this year we hope it really gets the town buzzing."

The festival has offered a varied programme in previous years, including tribute bands, celebrity guest speakers and local talent at venues such as The Regal, Cadmore Lodge, St Mary's Church, Tenbury High School and the Pump Rooms.