A MUSIC festival held in memory of a teenager who died suddenly in 2005 is to take place again next month.

Emma Curtis-Smith, from Chipping Norton, was 18 when she collapsed and died while watching her boyfriend passing out as an Army officer at Sandhurst.

She had suffered from asthma from an early age and died from a heart attack brought on by a collapsed lung.

Her family launched Emma’s Trust in her memory, which raises money for arts and to provide sporting opportunities for young people.

It holds a number of fundraising events each year, topped off with the festival.

This year Emma’s Day will be held on Sunday, September 13, between noon and 10pm, at Chipping Norton Lido, where Emma worked as a lifeguard.

Emma’s cousin and charity trustee Ian Nolan said: “With the current economic climate, we have gone for a smaller scale event, more of a celebration of music and arts in Chipping Norton than a big festival like the one we held in 2007.

“We have had a year off from having the music festival so everyone has been really excited about it and asking when it will be coming back.”

Already lined up to perform are the Chipping Norton Jazz All Stars and the Chipping Norton School of Dance.

There will also be a children’s workshop tent.

Last year, Emma’s Trust handed over £15,000.Organisers hoped to raise in the region of £5,000 this year.

Mr Nolan said: “Emma would be a little bit shocked that there is so much fuss going on and so much happening, but I think she would love the fact that there are now things to do in Chipping Norton, because she used to find it quite rural and frustrating.

“I think she would be really proud and pleased that there will be opportunities for her cousins and friends and neighbours that she didn’t have.”

More information is available at the Emma's Trust website.

emmastrust.com