The organisers of an upcoming classical music event in Banbury are hoping it will be the biggest ever held in the town.

Banbury Early Music Festival is the brainchild of award-winning educator and director of music at Banbury's St Mary's Church, Dylan McCaig, who is also a teacher of music at The Warriner School in Bloxham.

The event, scheduled for September 28-29, will follow on from the success of last year's one-day trial.

Mr McCaig, alongside musicians Heidi Fardell and Alison Kinder, has organised a weekend of concerts and workshops.

They will also be showcasing their individual musical talents, with Mr McCaig performing with his ensemble, Calder Consort, and Ms Fardell and Ms Kinder performing with theirs, Sounds Historical.

The festival's main venue will be St Mary’s Church, but activities will also take place at Whatley Hall and the Cromwell, where a marketplace for classical musicians is set to be held.

Businesses, including a newly opened strings music shop, 23 Violins, are lending their support and other music organisations from across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley are also getting involved.

As a non-profit organisation, all proceeds from the festival will go towards funding the event, including compensating performers and workshop leaders in addition to covering advertising and venue hire costs.

A fundraising target of £5,500 has been set.