MONDAY sees the start of a week-long fest of sound and vision as Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts gets underway on May 18.

Seven days of jazz, folk, classical music, blue grass and rock 'n' roll will culminate with a Bank Holiday street fair and party night with the Crescendo Big Band.

Accomplished performers join a long list of home-grown musicians, poets, artists, photographers and historians. Winchcombe’s churches play host to virtuoso concert violinist Michael Bochmann in Double Gloucester In Music And Song, cellist Nella Hunkins’ journey Around The World, and a piano and trumpet recital from Marcel Zidani and Paul Wood where Beethoven is given a Cuban twist.

Artists and photographers from the county open their studio doors for people to pop in and see their work on the Art Trail.

Wildlife photographer Molly Michelin, stone mason Richard Podd, painter Roger Phillpot, and the newly-formed Winchcombe Photographers’ group are exhibiting pieces and Charingworth Court’s owners are inviting visitors to see sculptures situated in their grounds.

Stanton Guildhouse Trust displays an array of quilting, wood and glass pieces and the famous Winchcombe Pottery is open.

Poet Anna Saunders joins Derbyshire Poet Laureate Matt Black, and BBC Breakfast Bard and Cheltenham Poetry Festival Slam champ Peter Wyton for a live literary event entitled Voices.

And the town’s history is vividly recalled through stories about World War I soldiers, and a bagman’s influence on the Duke of Wellington.

David Banks, chairman of the festival committee, said the community event caters to a broad range of tastes.

“It really shows Winchcombe’s proud community spirit,” he said.

Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts runs from May 18-25. For details visit www.winchcombefestival.co.uk or pick up a brochure from Winchcombe Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall.