Music enthusiasts are invited to Fleetville Festival this Sunday.

Visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of community music-making, cakes, tea, children's crafts and a history display at St Paul’s Church, Blandford Road, from 3pm. 

Music ranging from Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' and Duke Ellington's 'C Jam Blues', will be performed by the Fleetville Swing Band to excerpts from Vivaldi's 'Gloria,' sung by The Fleetville Chorus.

Choirs of Fleetville Junior and Infant Schools will also display their musical talents and the Fleetville a cappella choir, Fleetville Harmony, will sing Simon and Garfunkel and other modern classics.

Now in its eighth year, the festival has become a much loved annual event, founded by Paul Olive, a Fleetville resident with a passion for music.

Walking the streets of Fleetville, he noticed that many houses had pianos, all kinds of musical instruments and music stands in their front rooms and it struck him that music would be a great way of bringing the community together.

To make this idea a reality he enlisted the support of musical friends and began a campaign to create a community orchestra. The emphasis was on inclusivity; musicians should be of all ages and levels of ability.

Mr Olive died in 2011, however his inspirational idea remains in the Fleetville community, today.

This year the focus of the festival is on the Fleetville Swing Band, which will be joined by 25 Fleetville residents of all ages, who will have the opportunity to perform alongside the regular musicians.

There will also be performances by a ukelele band, 'The Jumpin' Fleas,' as well as a display about Fleetville community history.

For more information contact louisebrecknell@gmail.com.