NORTH Tyne folk favourite Kathryn Tickell will headline this year's Allen Valleys Folk Fesival, organisers have announced.

The critically-acclaimed singer and songwriter will take centre stage on the final afternoon of the festival, which takes place from Friday September 30 to Sunday October 2.

Festival-goers will see Kathryn play with her new youth band, Superfolkus.

And the latest line-up includes an eclectic mix of other musicians, ranging from London-based collective, the Turbans, through to Hebridean band, Eabhal.

The four-peice band, which hails from the Isle of Uist, has a local link, as it includes Allendale’s Nicky Kirk on the guitar.

Peter Aldcroft, chairman of the festival committee, said: "It's a real coup getting Kathryn on board. She embodies everything our festival is about.

"Even more so as she is bringing her new up-and-coming tribe of musicians, Superfolkus.

"We are about celebrating traditional and modern folk music and mixing the best of both worlds to give people a weekend to remember."

More acts are set to be added to the line-up of the event, which also celebrates arts and crafts.

The folk festival will take place at Allendale Village Hall, Allendale Primary School, and the town's St Cuthbert's Church.

It is part of the Allen Valleys Landscape Partnership Scheme, an initiative being rolled out by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tickets are now available. For more information, visit www.avff.co.uk.