ROCK star Peter Gabriel has told why he decided to bring his festival of world music and dance to a new home at Charlton Park near Malmesbury.

More than 20,000 people are expected at next year's WOMAD for its 25th anniversary.

The site on the 4,000-acre estate owned by the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire is just 15 miles from the musician's studios at Box.

Tickets have already gone on sale and the event over the weekend of July 27 could bring in an extra boost for local businesses.

At a launch on Thursday co-founder Mr Gabriel told journalists: "It is like the festival is coming home."

He explained the move from Reading was prompted by a lack of space. "I know there were a lot of frustrations, though we had wonderful support in Reading."

When a festival-goer cornered him in the buffet car of a train and told him she wouldn't be bringing her family any more because there were too many people, he knew it was time for a change he said.

"There are people who have been with us at WOMAD for years and hopefully they will still come and enjoy a much bigger and more beautiful site."

Artistic director Thomas Brooman explained the aim was not to make the festival bigger.

"As soon as I saw the place I was struck by a real sense of safety and seclusion. It is just a delightful place and it has a lovely atmosphere," he said.

He also saw the traffic could be got of the main road quickly.

Festival production manager Steve Haddrell said the festival wanted to have the "maximum artistic impact with the minimum environmental impact".

"It is a fantastic site. There is so much potential there. We can see many happy years with great events on that site."

The Earl of Suffolk's son Viscount Andover, who made the invitation to WOMAD, said he thought their festival-goers were more likely to treat the 280-acre site with more respect than others.

"My decision to invite WOMAD to bring their festival to Charlton Park was an important one as Charlton Park has always been a private estate with a great community spirit all around.

"WOMAD came extremely highly recommended by everyone to whom I spoke specifically regarding the impact it would have on us all."

He confessed that he was more a fan of Madonna than world music, but added: "Hopefully they'll enjoy the estate."

North Wiltshire District Council leader Carol O'Gorman told the star: "I am so pleased to hear you say you are coming home."

She explained there would be a series of further meetings to address different issues. "We are going to have to work out how the applications are put through."

Already in the line-up for this year's event, which takes place on seven stages are Steel Pulse and South African Sam Tshabalala. Past performers have included Youssou N'Dour, Fontella Bass, Nina Simone and Ravi Shankar. Musician Johnny Kalsi said working on community projects with WOMAD around the world had been an incredible experience.

He told how young Samoan and Maori gang members in New Zealand had been brought together in the studio and how he had been overwhelmed when he worked with abandoned children in a Sarajevo asylum.