LIVE Music is no longer on the menu for Chippenham’s first river festival in a bid to cut costs and maintain a family feeling.

The decision comes after massive changes were made to licensing agreements, which saw the cost of the festival rising dramatically.

In order for the festival to go ahead the organising committee took the decision to make cutbacks, and live music was first to go.

Festival Organiser John Clark said: “With live music, from a licensing and Health & Safety point of view, the event had to be viewed as a Music Festival, and this resulted in having to employ an army of security personnel, medical personnel and police back-up, which made the Festival unaffordable.

“However we believe that we need to focus on the main purpose of the Festival, to celebrate, enjoy and improve our River Avon in Chippenham.”

But live music may still be put on in other licensed premises concurrent with the River Festival, but the Festival itself will now focus on a family week-end, with as many events around the river as possible.

The committee is still keen to hear from anyone who can help out with the event in the final weeks leading up to Bank Holiday Weekend.

You can support Chippenham River Festival in one of the following ways:

Be a volunteer for 6 hours during the Festival (mail help@chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk )

Become a sponsor from £500 (contact john@seagry39.wanadoo.co.uk )

Take an ad in the programme from £25 (contact Rod at info@empirephotography.co.uk )

Buy a programme (£1 available from 10th August)

Buy a T-shirt (£7 adults, £5 kids from the Rose & Crown - and other outlets shortly)

Form a dragon-boat team – or ask us to find a team for you to join (dragons@chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk )

For information about the event visit the website at www.chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk