RESIDENTS in Cropredy are looking forward to a second Fairport Convention festival this year.

Cropredy, which hosts the folk/rock group's annual three-day event every August, will welcome the band and other entertainers later this month for a special concert which will raise money for the village church.

The concert will be held in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, and will provide cash for the Fairport Convention Bell, which will be installed as part of the Cropredy Bell Restoration and Augmentation Appeal.

Co-ordinator of the appeal Brenda Day said: "Cropredy church bells, which welcome Fairporters to the festival service each year, are in urgent need of servicing.

"The church has a wonderful set of six bells, cast between 1686 and 1690.

"Every 100 years, bells must be turned on their headstocks so that the clapper strikes in a new place. If this is not done, the bells will crack. This was last done in 1913."

She added: "We want to increase the number of bells from six to eight to enable ringers to perform more complex, musical peals."

Village bellringers came up with the idea of dedicating one of the new bells to the Fairport Festival, which has become such an important part of life in the village.

Visitors to this year's August festival raised £6,000 of the £9,000 required to buy and hang the Fairport bell and villagers hope the concert will raise the remaing £3,000.

The total restoration project is costing £37,000.

Mrs Day said: "Fairport Convention have been so generous. They are giving their time and talent to support our appeal, to leave a wonderful legacy for our community."

The concert, on Saturday, November 25, 2006, will be a first for Cropredy church. A few tickets are still available at £15 each from The Green Scene art gallery and coffee shop in Cropredy, or by calling 01295 758782. Seating is unreserved. Doors open at 7pm and a bar will be available.