THE annual Trowbridge Village Pump Festival gets underway tonight and is set to bring in the crowds at the weekend.

The 35th festival, held at Stowford Manor Farm near Wingfield, Trowbridge, brings together some of the best folk and roots music acts with a family-friendly and easy-going crowd in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside.

The festival is due to open with its Brits night later, featuring Irish singer Cara Dillon as the headline act.

Tomorrow night huge folk act Show of Hands take the stage, Richard Thompson plays on Saturday and Don Mclean finishes off the festivities on Sunday, among a myriad of other quality acts.

All week a dedicated band of volunteers, who use their annual holiday allowance to help set up the festival, have been putting up marquees and arranging the site.

Guests have been arriving since yesterday, setting up temporary home in the campsite.

John Alderslade from Melksham, is one of the original founders of the festival, which began its life in the back of the Lamb Pub in Trowbridge.

He said: "We've been putting up the marquee which is one whole structure this year rather than two separate tents so it's nice and open.

"The group of volunteers has grown over the years and we all take time off to help out.

"Other people go to the seaside but we put on a festival.

"One of our number John Morris comes all the way from New Zealand to help out. He used to live in Devizes but when he moved out there he couldn't leave the festival behind.

"We've got more young people coming this year and setting up their tents, which is good because we don't want it to die off with us old fogies.

"The line-up this year is excellent and I'm really looking forward to seeing them play."

The weather forecast for the weekend is mixed but heavy downpours like those that put a dampener on last year's event are unlikely.

Wadworth Brewery sponsors the festival and puts on a special brew for the event called Rumpy Pumpy.

Mr Alderslade said: "It's very good for you, the festival beer. It puts hairs on the bits you never knew you had."

Day tickets are still available if you want to go along. To book tickets online visit www.wegottickets.com/f/235 or call the credit card line on 01225 710535.

For a full line-up visit www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk or call the information line of 01225 769132.