An annual arts festival is hunting for a new secretary to help with this year's events.The Cromer and North Norfolk Festival of Music, Dance and Speech will be left without a secretary when Tina Anderson steps down in summer.

An annual arts festival is hunting for a new secretary to help with this year's events.

The Cromer and North Norfolk Festival of Music, Dance and Speech will be left without a secretary when Tina Anderson steps down in summer.

Mrs Anderson has been involved with the festival for 23 years, since her daughters first took part. She has been chairman since 2004, and took on the role of secretary two years ago.

She said: 'Over the years it has given me great pleasure and lots of laughs. Most of our voluntary committee became involved, like me, because they had children or grandchildren taking part.

'We are hoping this plea for help will tempt someone from the present crop of parents and grandparents to join us. Age is no bar.

'The individual organisers of the different branches do a fantastic job but we desperately need a secretary who can take charge of the general paperwork.'

Festival president Brenda Hare, who has been involved for more than 30 years, said: 'It's getting more and more difficult to get people to take on responsible posts, even though we have divided out a lot of the work and it's not such a big job any more.'

This is the festival's 62nd year, with more than 1,000 people expected to take part in dance, music and speech events.

Participants perform in from of expert judges who give encouraging, constructive feedback, and everyone gets a certificate of honour and an adjudicator's report to help them progress.

The festival is also calling for entrants into this year's events, which will take place in April and May.

The Dance Festival runs from April 3 to April 5 at the Auden Theatre in Holt, the Music Festival runs from May 1 to May 10 in Cromer Parish Hall, and the Speech and Drama Festival runs on May 6 and 7, also at Cromer Parish Hall.

Syllabuses are available from local music shops or by calling 01263 821013 (music), 01263 515247 (dance) or 01263 837224 (drama). Entries close on January 24 (dance), February 11 (music) and February 16 (drama).

For more information contact Brenda Hare on 01263 512928.