A DALES festival draws to a close this weekend, although organisers are hoping to be back with more later in the year.

Swaledale Festival has been a victim of foot-and-mouth, with the programme truncated by the risk of spreading the disease into a part of Yorkshire so far left untouched.

But some events have gone ahead in the villages and towns, including musical performances, talks, dancing and poetry.

On Saturday, it is hoped people will let their hair down at a rock night at Wensleydale School, from 7.30pm.

St Andrew's Church, Grinton, hosts a festival service at 10.30am, on Sunday, with Reeth Brass Band performing on the village green, at 4.30pm, and the Northern Sinfonia booked for a performance back at St Andrew's, at 8pm.

Events called off as a result of the foot-and-mouth crisis are to be rescheduled for an extra festival programme in the autumn.

Spokesman Philip Parr remained upbeat about the response to the summer events.

"It's gone much better than we had expected, to be honest," he said yesterday.

"We accept numbers are down overall, but with so many other things cancelled, local people have been delighted to see something going on at last.

"The response means we can look to another short run in October, and at least the future of the festival seems secure."