THE autumn section of Wensleydale festival is well under way with events taking place in village halls, farmers' barns, castles, schools and homes for the elderly.

Launched with the aid of lottery and local funding, the festival takes the form of shows and workshops during the spring and autumn. Workshops in schools generally coincide with evening performances in the same village so both become a rounded community experience.

The directors are Messrs Howard Firth and David Charlton who have benefited from the experience and inspiration of Ms Elizabeth Carter, former director of the Swaledale festival.

They set out to gain the co-operation of societies, community groups and willing individuals to achieve an integrated arts strategy in Wensleydale without impinging on existing annual events such as Swaledale and Middleham festivals and the dale's tournament of song.

A web site is now in place for people to check what's happening, and it even offers free transport. This can be found //members.tripod.co.uk/LeyburnLight/.

The next events are: tonight, the Pound Shop Boys at the Bolton Arms, Leyburn (8pm), playing music from unusual sources; Monday, Tubalate in Concert at Hunton village hall (7.30), in a programme that includes classical music and modern music - the group performed at Prince Charles' 50th birthday party last year.

Indian Monsoon by Shantha Rao and the Black Cat theatre group is at Harmby village hall on Tuesday, November 21 (7.30), bringing alive ancient Indian myths and vibrant dancing using recorded and live music, puppets and poetry; Estampie at Bolton Castle on Saturday, November 25 (8pm), performs music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance on a wide range of instruments; and on December 5 there is A Christmas Cracker by Grand Theatre of Lemming, described as action packed and very funny, at Wensleydale school in Leyburn (7.30).

Tickets are available from Leyburn tourist information office on 01969 623069, post offices in West Witton and Hunton, Carpery village hall and Bolton Castle.