A MAJOR fundraising event in Wells will provide a day of family entertainment incorporating music, football and all the fun of the fair.

The Party on the Pitch will be held at the Wells Football Club ground in Rowdens Road on Sunday, May 5.

The fun will kick off with a charity football match starting at 10.30am.

From midday there will be live music, fair attractions, face painting, food and drink stalls and a bar that will continue until 10pm.

Entry is free but buckets will be taken around on the day for donations to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and there will be a charity auction of an art piece and the match ball signed by all the players.

The Party on the Pitch, which could become an annual event, is being organised by Steve Loxton, James Bevan and Nathan Phillips of Wells FC.

"Our aim is to create a family fun day which Wells residents will look forward to each year," said James.

"There's not much better than to raise money for charity, get funds for our club and at the same time have a big party."

The music headliner will be Momentum, and other bands confirmed so far include the Frukulele Orchestra group and The Grey Dogs Jazz band.

A competition is also being run with local schools to give an up and coming band the chance to make an appearance on the main stage.

More than 40 local businesses have come together to help sponsor the event, in addition to five main business sponsors, St Andrews Press, Protec, Devondale Electrical, 24/7 Drainage and Wells Cathedral School, and a private sponsor, Trevor Higgs.

"Local businesses have once again shown their strength by working together to sponsor our event," said James.

"We have been totally blown away by the support we've had and we cannot thank them enough."