A VILLAGE launched its 2003 festival programme yesterday.

The Northern Aldborough Festival began with a few concerts and musical performances at venues around the community, which adjoins the North Yorkshire market town of Boroughbridge.

However, as its reputation for quality spread, so the programme grew to include dates in Ripon and Harrogate.

Highlights this year include a performance by internationally renowned Russian pianist, Nikolai Demidenko at Aldborough Church this evening.

For details of the programme, call (01423) 324899.