A music festival that turns a quiet north Oxfordshire village into a temporary tented town of more than 23,000 folk-rock fans, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this summer.

Fairport Convention's 2003 Cropredy Festival takes place on August 7, 8, and 9. The 680 villagers cannot wait.

Parish councillors are some of the keenest supporters of the event.

They receive about £12,000 a year for village funds -- and 1996 saw the construction of the Cropredy sports pavilion, paid for by festival cash.

Another popular fundraiser is the Cropredy cricket match, when well-known musicians take on the village team.

Dave Pegg, Fairport's bass guitarist, said: "This annual event is without doubt the friendliest and most civilised festival of its type in the world.

"Some fans are as old or even older than the band, but many are youngsters who you would think would be more at home at Glastonbury."

Mr Pegg and his wife Christine have been organising the festival since 1980.

Music fans make the yearly pilgrimage from as far away as Japan, Australia, and America.

The festival site is next to the canal, and many people arrive by narrowboat.

Lindisfarne will top the bill on the first day and on Friday, August 8, Procol Harum are the headline group.

Fairport Convention's gig is planned for Saturday night.