RYEDALE Festival, one of the leading arts events in the country, will have a new chairman and director for next year.

Peter O'Malley is stepping down as chairman and will be replaced by accountant Ken Overton, of Slingsby, a member of the festival trust.

Malcolm Layfield is also leaving after a decade as artistic director and Justin Doyle, artistic director at St Paul's, Knightsbridge, takes over.

This year's festival was praised as the best yet, attracting thousands of people, international musicians and singers, and boosting Ryedale's economy by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Many of the performances at the district's stately homes and landmark churches, received standing ovations.

There were many sold-out events this year, especially the concerts at Duncombe Park, Castle Howard, Hovingham Hall, as well as the opera performances and coffee concerts in village and town churches such as Bossall, Lastingham, Pickering, Old Malton, Norton, and Ampleforth Abbey.

Mr O'Malley said talented young musicians from Japan, Holland and Belgium were joined by seasoned international artistes.

Mr Overton was the former principal trumpeter with the National Youth Orchestra, and has been the managing director of a number of large public companies.

Mr O'Malley said: "His expertise will be invaluable in planning future festivals."