MUSIC festival-goers are being asked if they will sponsor a chair in order to help meet the ever-increasing costs of staging events.

Organisers of the Chipping Campden Festival Academy Orchestra say even when concerts are a sell-out the cost of putting them on greatly exceeds the box office takings.

The three orchestral concerts receive a box office income of around £25,000 but cost £45,000 to put on.

Even with generous support from the mains sponsors, Cutts of Campden, the festival heavily subsidises the annual project.

Organisers are hoping people will sponsor a chair, a scheme launched last year, in order to make the orchestra more financially viable and release funds to expand the educational work. Plans include forging a link with an inner city school in a deprived area where the academy could go in for a week's workshops and final concert.

They are also planning to form a Cotswold Youth Orchestra this summer and aimed at secondary school age students who will be mentored by the academy members of the festival.

Conductor Thomas Hull and orchestra leader Ruth Rogers have already been sponsored for this year, but there is still an opportunity to sponsor a professional player, £1,000, or an academy player, £450.

Sponsorships can be for one year or five years. There is also an opportunity to gift aid.

Details of how to sponsor a chair, become a 'friend' or donate can be found on the website campdenmusicfestival.co.uk