DEDICATED neighbours are committed to staging a village festival “bigger and better” than before.

The festival committee quad of John, Doreen, Barbara and Joanne have been working together for more than 10 years to stage Abridge Village Festival, and claim their efforts allowed them to help build the village hall.

The festival runs from June 9 - 11, offering a number of events, including a barn dance and a beer festival for the first time.

John Firby, who has been involved in the planning and fundraising of the festival since it started 30 years ago, said: “It has its up years and down years, but we could say it has been very successful overall. The money raised from this festival built this village hall. We bought the field in the late 80s and built upon it. The old hall used to be a shed with no parking.”

John says the festival has been successful because when it started, he spoke to all the local fundraisers, who allowed him to pool all their resources and work together. Now the festival is established, he lets charities and residents groups set up stalls at the festival for free.

He added: “We have got a great community spirit. We are a registered charity, so we cannot give the money we raise away. We put it into the community instead, and allow one or two other charities to come along. It does not cost us at all and 20 other organisations are all behind us to fundraise.”

The festival, which is held on the field outside the village hall, started off as a one day event, but as it grew more popular, it became bigger and expanded.

John said: “We started off as a small craft fair. Then we started introducing more events and it has now expanded into two days of events.”

The first event is the Summer Ball, with live music by the Detroit Soul Collective, with a four course meal.

On Saturday June 10, there is more music, stalls, and a fair ground for the children. This is followed by the barn dance.

On the last day, Sunday, June 11, there is a car show and an antiques fair.

All events are held on the field outside the village hall, in Ongar Road.

For enquiries on tickets, call John on 01992812405 or visit www.abridgevillageweekend.co.uk.