AN eclectic mix of entertainment including music, drama, poetry, and film is on offer at this year's Tewkesbury Spring Festival being held at various venues around the town.

Awaken Your Senses follows the success of last year's festival in the town and promises events for all tastes, from circus skills workshops to jazz, gospel and classical chamber music, from comic poetry to a display on the art of taxidermy.

The four-day festival opened yesterday (Thursday) and tonight's programme includes a gala concert by Tewkesbury Music Centre featuring talented youngsters from local primary schools, the internationally renowned Slovenski Octet, and a traditional storyteller.

Saturday sees a series of workshops including street dance, Afro-Caribbean dance and Samba drumming. There are arts activities, an antiques roadshow, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince told using puppets and music and a performance in the Abbey of Pergolesi's moving Stabat Mater.

During the weekend there is also poetry from John Hegley and ensemble Tenebrae. Ticket details are available on www.awakenyour senses.org