A COMMUNITY that was left without their summer festival when it ended last year need not be disappointed.

People in Wanstead, Leytonstone and beyond were saddened in 2016 when they found out Music in Wanstead Park would run for the last time.

After 17 years organiser Gill James, of the Aldersbrook Families Association (AFA), decided to call it a day in July, saying it was “time for a change”.

But keen to follow quickly in her footsteps, 27-year-old Dee Wood was not willing to leave her corner of east London without a summer festival and has organised East Not East Festival in its place.

On Saturday July 15 the park’s Temple enclave will be full of music, food and drink all from the local area, with talks, poetry slams and much more from midday to 10pm.

Ms Wood, who lives in Leytonstone, has been wanting to organise an event in the park for three or four years.

She said: “Gill is a family friend and she’s given me her full backing to start a new festival.

“I’ve always lived in this part of east London and my dad’s been part of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands for years.

“When you’re little you just go to the park and you don’t really realise how beautiful it is, but it’s amazing – it’s a completely unique venue.

“It’s got an amazing history too, and combine that with all the art, culture and talent we’ve got coming out of the area, it’s going to be a great event.”

Keen to keep things local Ms Wood has already teamed up with East London Radio, the Wanstead Tap in Forest Gate, Leytonstone Food Assembly and Newham Bookshop in the run up to the big day.

She promises the festival will be a “completely different offering” to its predecessor, but will still cater to everyone, with plenty of child friendly activities.

She added: “We’ve got so much to offer here, but we’re a little underrated.

“I know people who live here who have never been to Wanstead Park, then they stumble across it and find out what a gem it is.

“It’s going to be a showcase of what diverse, creative people we have living here, with our magical park as the backdrop."

Dee Wood is still looking for volunteers who will be given free entry on the day, for more information see the website.