Prepare to be served up a wobbly spoonful of summer fun with a music festival which breaks the mould and sets the standard.

Jelly Festival in South Creake, near Fakenham, is being staged for the fourth time on August 5-6. More than 25 bands are due to play and more than 2,000 people are expected to attend.

It is being organised by Ben Gardner, 28, and held at Compton Hall, his family home.

He said: 'Jelly Festival is all about fun and silliness and I'm delighted with how things have gone so far.

'We had about 800 people at the first festival and more than 2,000 last year which is just about the capacity.

'We've more than doubled the budget this year. There will be two more stages and more spent on production and visual aspects.'

It could be said that this fun and silly ethos is captured perfectly by the enigmatic festival mascot, Jelly Monster, who has a growing celebrity status.

The Jelly Monster was not available for our photo shoot and his place has been taken by Mr Gardener's friend and festival organiser Paul Spencer.

Mr Gardner said: 'In the pub one day a mate suggested getting dressed up in a bright sumo wrestling outfit and appearing like a massive jelly.

'He went around to nearby towns and cities handing out fliers to promote the festival. Last year he was chased out of Castle Mall in Norwich, it must have been quite a sight and brought roars of laughter from people.

'Last year he asked if he could go on stage and do a dance, I thought it would either be very funny or car crash entertainment but he was excellent and he had people of all ages dancing along with him.'

He added: 'I've been to many festivals and I spotted a gap in the market for a festival like this. It is family-friendly with a diverse range of music.

'Big companies have offered sponsorship but I've turned them down because I don't want it to become a big commercial event. It is just amazing to see people having a great time at the place where I grew up.'

Headline acts include The Freestylers, The Egg and Concrete Disco. There will be lots of children's entertainment, a jelly cocktail bar and cups of jelly will be handed out with donations to the East Anglian Air Ambulance accepted.

For more information and to book tickets, go to www.jellyfestival.com

adam.lazzari@archant.co.uk