MUSICIANS of all ages and abilities are being urged to enter a festival which will give entrants the chance to perform their music in front of an audience.

They have until Sunday to enter the Weymouth and Dorset Music Festival, which will be held at Budmouth College in Weymouth on Saturday, March 3.

There will be a whole day of music, taking place between 9am and 5.30pm, and entrants will be able to get feedback on their performances from a highly qualified and friendly adjudicator. Following the festival, musicians have the chance to perform at a concert on Friday, March 9.

Artistic advisor Duncan Honeybourne said: "The festival has been rebranded and we've got a new name to emphasise that we are a county wide event. We're keen to encourage musicians across Dorset to get their applications in now for a day of informal, fun and companionable music-making."

Entries have already been received for the festival from as far afield as Devon and Somerset.

Members of the public are being encouraged to come along on the day and listen to the musicians perform.

Light refreshments will be available and programmes can be ordered in advance, online, at a discount price, until March 2.

See weymouthmusicfestival.co.uk for entry forms and further information. The deadline for entries is Sunday, January 28. Email weymouthmusicfestival@live.co.uk or call 01305 257958 for more information.