ORGANISERS of one of the region's last music festivals are battling to save it.

For the past 20 years, music lovers have travelled to the North Pennines for the Upper Weardale Music Festival.

Last year's event had to be cancelled because of foot-and-mouth, leaving the festival virtually bankrupt.

Now, mainly through a series of fundraising concerts, a festival will be held at St John's Chapel Church next month, although it will only be a non-competitive masterclass.

Treasurer Phillippa Rowe said the effects of foot-and-mouth had been devastating.

"We were left without any cash reserves for this year," she said.

The committee has launched an appeal for Friends of the Festival to make donations of £15 a year.

The festival, which will be held on June 8, was the brainchild of music teacher Constance "Consie" Milburn.

"Consie would be devastated if she thought the festival had been finished by foot-and-mouth.

"She was very much the inspiration behind the succcess of the festival," said secretary Zelda Heney, who went to work for the music teacher at the Old Vicarage, at St John's Chapel, as a 16-year-old.

Next month's masterclass will be followed by an evening concert, celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

* For details of the masterclass, or the Friends of Upper Weardale Music Festival, contact Zelda Heney on (01388) 537623, Ros Taylor on (01388) 537534 or Phillippa Rowe on (01388) 537665.