ONE of the district’s newest festivals is hoping to secure its long-term future after landing a main sponsor.

Estate agents Red Hot Property, which has offices in Hexham and Prudhoe, has teamed up with the Allen Valleys Folk Festival.

Now in its third year, the festival is set to take place from Friday, September 30, to Sunday, October 2, at Allendale Village Hall, Allendale Primary School, and the town’s St Cuthbert’s Church.

The festival has received backing from the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership and the Heritage Lottery Fund, to support it through the first four years. But external funding is needed to secure the event’s long-term future. The folk festival’s chairman,Peter Aldcroft, said: “We’ve achieved a lot so far and this year’s festival offers a particularly strong and diverse line-up. Ticket sales look promising and we’re hoping for sell-out performances over the festival weekend.”

Gareth Jones, managing director of Red Hot Property, said: “Not only has the festival become a very positive thing for the Allen Valleys, it’s a boost for the area.

“The committee works incredibly hard and their approach is very positive.”

North Tyne folk favourite Kathryn Tickell will headline this year’s folk festival, alongside her new youth band, Superfolkus.

The line-up also includes a wide range of other musicians, from London-based collective The Turbans, through to Hebridean band Eabhal.

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