VANDALS targeting a world-renowned folk festival are being invited to work with organisers - rather than against them.

The challenge was thrown down by Joe Maloney, director of the Billingham International Folklore Festival, after arsonists attacked the town centre site hours before the opening of the prestigious event.

"If it's a case of them wanting some channel for their energy, let them come and work for us,'' invited Mr Maloney.

Vandals tried to burn down a sponsors' marquee doubling as home for an exhibition of crafts from the ten countries represented at the festival which this year celebrates "37 years of excellence, fun and friendship.''

Eagle-eyed security guard Joe Watson and his team spotted the fire before it could take a firm hold and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before the arrival of professional firefighters. Nevertheless the fire burned a hole in the tent roof.

The main concert marquee was unaffected.

Mr Maloney said: "It's a bit soul destroying when the morons of this world do what they do when everyone at the festival is a willing volunteer.

"Every town has its share of people with no mentality and I don't know what we can do about it,'' he added. "There are those who have been brought up wrongly or have no sense of responsibility.''

He paid tribute to the alertness and quick reactions of Mr Watson and his team for saving the exhibition tent.

Conservative estimates put crowds expected to attend this week's concerts at 20,000. Festival chairman Harry Davies said: "I cannot believe that we are able to improve upon other years, but we have more to offer by way of concerts and venues than before and yet we've managed to keep the costs of tickets down thanks to sponsors and local businesses.''

Even before groups from Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, Kenya, Mexico, Moldovia, Phillippines, Romania and the USA took to the stage of the launch of the festival at the weekend, organisers revealed they were already planning the event for 2002.