VETERAN socialist and thorn in the side of New Labour, Tony Benn, has confirmed he is appearing at this year's Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival.

The festival weekend will take place from July 16 to 18 in the village of Tolpuddle - the birthplace of British trade unionism.

Last year's festival attracted a crowd of over 8,000 people - the largest gathering since its centenary year in 1984.

Tony Benn will join a line-up of speakers including Home Office minister Hazel Blears, TUC general secre-tary Brendan Barber and Benn's son Hilary, minister for overseas development.

Left-wing musician Billy Bragg also makes a return visit to the festival this year - and dancing will be obligatory when the Oyster Band takes to the stage.

Trade unions from around Britain gather at this annual commemoration of six agricultural workers who formed this country's first trades union movement.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six farm labourers from the village who were arrested in 1834 on the charge of taking part in an "illegal oath" ceremony.

In the eyes of their masters the offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihood.

They were sentenced to seven years' transportation to the penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land (the 19th century name for Tasmania) in Australia.

The sentences provoked such a huge public outcry that it led to the granting of free pardons and after three years they returned to England.