The popular 'fringe' at a major north Norfolk folk festival will have a new home this spring - after a chance meeting between event organisers.

Cromer Folk on the Pier founder Scott Butler has been hampered in expanding the fringe events due to a shrinking number of venues in town.

When local carnival helpers Mark Pearce, Pete Miles and Phillip Overall, who run the town's Cottage pub, heard about his plight they took up the challenge to find a solution - using their combined expertise in running outside events to come up with hosting the fringe in a marquee.

Within a week a plan was drawn up and given the go ahead both from North Norfolk District Council and Cromer Town Council for a fully-staged venue which will be situated at North Lodge Park.

It will include a real ale bar and enable upwards of 275 concert-goers to enjoy a range of acts from the world of folk and roots music for the May 11-13 event.

The venue will run from the Friday night to Sunday tea time and a full programme which includes a Saturday late night ceilidh will be on offer. Due to the costs of running this second festival venue there will be a modest charge for the entertainment, but this will be little more than 'the price of a pint' said Mr Butler, who has run the folk event for 14 years.

He said the popularity of the main stage acts at the headline venue of Cromer Pier Pavilion, combined with the 'demise' of some venues, had made it all the harder to grow the festival and attract more people to the town.

He was delighted with the new collaboration and looked forward to making sure the programming for the marquee created a success for all concerned.

Details of the marquee concerts and other fringe events will be released in the coming weeks before the festival.