ALISON CROOSE There is already a rush for tickets for this summer's King's Lynn Festival with concerts by Aled Jones, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Young Musician, Nicola Benedetti, likely to be early sell-outs.

ALISON CROOSE

There is already a rush for tickets for this summer's King's Lynn Festival, with concerts by Aled Jones, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Young Musician Nicola Benedetti likely to be early sellouts.

Despite the big demand for tickets for the festival - which runs from July 17-30 - there will be seats available for all events when general ticket sales begin with postal bookings today.

Festival administrator Joanne Mawson said there had been huge interest in the recently-released festival brochure, and priority bookings by Friends of the Festival were up on last year's very good figures.

"We are delighted with the response but there will be plenty of tickets available for all events when postal booking begins," she said.

The festival will open on July 17 with an evening of brass band classics by the Black Dyke Band. Among the personalities taking part will be BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, whose talk about topical issues on July 18 is expected to be an early sellout, and historian David Starkey, who will be in Lynn on July 24.

Violinist Benedetti, 17, from Scotland, who has been in the public eye since her success in last year's BBC competition, is proving a big draw. She will team up with the European Union Chamber Orchestra for a concert at St Nicholas' Chapel on July 19.

Postal bookings must be sent to the festival office at 5 Thoresby College, Queen Street, King's Lynn, PE30 1HX. For more information, call 01553 767557.