As Festival Too ends, King's Lynn's festival season continues with the King's Lynn Festival.

A service was held at King's Lynn Minster yesterday, led by Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Rev Jonathan Meyrick, to launch the festival.

Since its beginning in the 1950s the festival has become well respected and brings top musicians from a range of genres to the town.

But it is not just the artists who come to Lynn for the event as people come from far and wide to hear the music, bringing with them a boost to the local economy.

Alison Croose, chairman of the festival, said: 'The number of people who attend events amounts to thousands.

'We have 26 events and about a third are sold out already. We have four or five nights in the Corn Exchange which are looking like they will be sold out, so that is a lot of people.

'Research shows that most are from around west Norfolk but there is a spread right across East Anglia with some from further afield. There are people who have perhaps never been to Lynn before and they may come back and tell their friends about it.

'Apart from the visitors there are also the artists: when you have a symphony orchestra and the crew, that is a lot of people who have to eat after they have rehearsed.

'The emphasis is on the Tuesday Market Place but people will go off up the coast and do other things while they are here.'

The festival was first launched by Lady Fermoy, grandmother to Diana, Princess of Wales, as a celebration of the restoration of the Guildhall in 1951.

While the Guildhall is still used as a venue, a number of other historic sites around Lynn are also home to top-class performances.

'We have concerts in St Nicholas's Chapel, the Guildhall and King's Lynn Minster,' said Mrs Croose. 'The festival brings people into these buildings and the visitors enjoy their surroundings.

'They make wonderful venues to listen to music and it is good that they are being used.'

Riverfront restaurant and hotel Bank House is one business which receives a boost from the festival.

Michael Baldwin, general manager, said: 'For the first night we get the full benefit of the festival. When it moves to the Tuesday Market Place we have a good steady trade, pretty much as normal.

'It is good for the other hotels and restaurants around the Tuesday Market Place.

'The last weekend especially you can't move around there. It is definitely a good thing for the town.'

West Norfolk Council leader Nick Daubney also believes that the festival helps to bring people into the town.

'We are a bit of a hidden jewel and not well known and the festival is a great advert for the town,' he said. 'For a town of its size, Lynn does punch above its weight and brings people in from all around.

'It is a quality music festival and is world renowned and it is great for the hotels and restaurants in the town.'

For reviews of the festival, see the Eastern Daily Press; for information, visit www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk.