A week-long millennium festival for more than 1,000 people is set to go ahead thanks to a cash boost of £6,000.

Businesses, councils and community groups have given the cash for the Witham Millenniun Festival to be held in June.

Organisers from the Witham Council of Churches pledged £7,000 to the project, but asked for financial support to reach the £12,000 target.

The largest contributors supporting the project so far include Witham Town Council, Essex Millennium Fund and companies in the town.

Now the target has been reached, preparations for the festival can get under way.

Plans in the pipeline are a 1,000-seater marquee with exhibitions and presentations based on the different elements which make up the town.

These will be featured on different days and will include a youth day, a crafts day and a united worship day, with a special band.

There will also be a chance for businesses and voluntary groups to show residents the opportunities in the town at a two-day exhibition.

Richard Church, chairman of the festival committee, said: "We still welcome donations but we are now mainly asking people to make sure they come and look around, to see what the town has to offer.

"Some people are always moaning about the town not having enough shops or things to do. This will be a celebration of what it has got."

The council of churches will use any cash left over from the festival for other community projects.

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