THIS year’s Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival opens with a prestigious concert by the Bingham String Quartet at Concord College, Acton Burnell on Saturday, July 26 at 7.30pm, the programme for which will include Steve Reich’s iconic and moving composition, Different Trains.

The festival is a key date on Shropshire’s summer calendar, and features professional concerts, organ recitals, coffee concerts given by local musicians together with a major, and highly popular Art and Crafts exhibition.

The exhibition at Church Stretton School will feature works by distinguished guest artist Rob Leckey and more than 100 local amateur and professional artists, photographers and designer craft-workers. Around 600 works of art, with original prints and craft, will be displayed alongside a comprehensive display of photographs, and the exhibition will be open to the public, 11am to 6pm, seven days a week, from Tuesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 9.

Roger Stokes, festival chairman said: “There’s something for all tastes, from classical and popular music, to stage shows, monologues, and a jazz weekend featuring Tim Kliphuis Trio, and The Big Chris Barber Band. We also have what promises to be a delightful and thoroughly entertaining showcase of our very own local young talent when ‘school’s out @ the arts festival’ present their show on Thursday, August 7.

Also on the festival line-up are Bones Apart - one of the world's best trombone quartets present El Nuevo Mundo - a musical voyage from the Spanish peninsula to the discovery of The Americas; The Owen Lewis' Portable Theatre Company with two one-act plays, The Human Rocket and The Fight Game. One of Europe's leading oboe trios, Pipers 3, promise to captivate with the variety and quality of their repertoire.

Dame Jenni Murray OBE - well-known as the presenter of Woman's Hour will look back at her life and career in 'An Audience with Jenni Murray'.

Cellophony - the London-based cello octet who have rapidly established themselves as the UK’s leading cello ensemble, will be delivering their vibrant, sonorous and exhilarating sound, and Mark Bebbington returns with a piano recital on Tuesday, August 5.

The festival closes on Saturday, August 9 with what promises to be a spectacular performance by the jazz legend, Chris Barber and his 10-piece band, with a selection of his favourite music.

For full details visit strettonfestival.org.uk or call 01694 723133.