Ticket sales for the annual King's Lynn Festival, which starts next week, have already beaten last year's record box-office.

Classical music remains the cornerstone of the festival with both the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra performing.

Also heading to west Norfolk for the 66th festival are Lesley Garrett, Andrew Graham-Dixon, and Suzannah Lipscomb, with Ronnie Scott's All Stars celebrating the world-famous jazz venue.

Festival chairman Alison Croose said: 'We are staging an especially wide-ranging programme which has created a great amount of interest and already ticket sales have beaten last year's record box office.

'There is a long waiting list for The Ronnie Scott's Story and we expect a number of other events to be sell-outs.'

Four concerts will celebrate Lynn's association with composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who famously collected folk songs in town pubs, and conducted a festival concert at St Nicholas' Chapel 60 years ago.

The programme will also include Ray Gelato, known as Britain's 'godfather of swing', who will team up with award-winning singer Claire Martin to explore the Great American Songbook.

And two major folk names are appearing at Lynn for the first time. Lau, one of the most sought-after groups on the Scottish scene, and The Unthanks, from North-East England.

The packed programme of 30 events runs from July 17-30.

Call the box-office at the Corn Exchange on 01553-764864 or visit www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk

Are you bringing something special to Norfolk this summer? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk