THE annual Trimdon Village traditional music festival starts tonight with a concert by Trimdon and District Male Voice Choir in the village hall, starting at 7pm.

The festival will run until Saturday, September 14.

The Bird In Hand Folk Club will be featuring Nebula and evergreen band Skerne, which includes Tony Blair's agent John Burton, at 8.30pm.

The pub is also the venue for the World Spoon Playing Championships on Saturday, at 1pm, with people invited to take on current champion Bert Draycott.

Gipsy jazz will be featured in Trimdon Labour Club on Saturday, at 8pm, with the Hot Club of Kings Cross, the John Wrightson band and Shona Kipling.

Tuesday is pub games night at the Bird in Hand, from 8pm, and Thursday is young bands night at Sedgefield Community College, starting at 6pm.

Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies perform at the Labour Club next Friday, at 8pm, with Prelude and Gary Philipson.

The Labour Club presents Lindisfarne, with Vin Garbutt and High Anxiety completing the line-up at the club on Saturday, September 14.

Tickets for all the festival events can be purchased on (01388) 815700.

The festival website is at www.trimdonfestival.co.uk.