ORGANISERS of one of the city's newest festivals are looking to show there is life in West Oxford as they plan to make their annual celebrations the biggest and best yet.

The planners for the North Hinksey Festival 2008 are looking for volunteers to make this year's festivities go with a swing.

They also want to hear from people and businesses who could donate their time and ideas to the event.

The festival, which is in its third year, will run over ten days in the middle of June.

It is set to feature a street fair in the Westway shopping centre, a display of vintage vehicles and motorbikes, and events with a musical theme.

The event was started by organisers who thought not enough was being done to promote community spirit in North Hinksey and Botley.

Jenny Barker, of Southern Bypass Road, said: "We were producing our parish plan and thought there was nothing really going on in the parish.

"North Hinksey and Botley is a strange place because it is divided by the A34 and the A420. It's got a shopping centre, but it hasn't really got a heart to the area.

"So we just wanted to get the community spirit going. I think it is something that the parish has really needed.

"We want to get people together and show that North Hinksey and Botley is an interesting place to live and it isn't a dormant town."

Mrs Barker, 59, added: "We had some events that went really well last year, but we'd like local people to come forward with any ideas for new things we can do.

"We also need an army of volunteers to get events off the ground."

The North Hinksey Festival runs from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 22.

Any people or businesses that think they could help or support the festival should contact Bert Beuzeval on 01865 862140 or email jenny@impco.demon.co.uk