Time is running out to purchase early bird tickets for this year’s Royston Arts Festival.

Tickets at a lower price for the festival, which is being run by Creative Royston, will be available until this Sunday, August 31.

Creative Royston chairman Graham Palmer said: “As in the past we have attempted to make events and activities as diverse as possible in the hope that there will be something for everyone.”

The theme for this year’s week-long arts festival, which will run from September 19-28, is Heroes and Villains. Advanced booking is required for a series of workshops that will participants new skills.

The workshops, themselves, range from learning to face-paint to writing for magazines, to playing a ukulele to drawing manga, the cartoon art method that originated in Japan.

For those who are inspired by the new series of the Great British Bake-Off, a session will be held exploring the art of cupcake decoration.

Other events which can be pre-booked include an In Conversation event with Alison Balsom, the multi-award winning trumpet player whose career began in Royston; a comedy night with up-and-coming comedians Iain Stirling and Howard Read, and the usual finale concert, which will include a section to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Volunteers are needed during the arts festival to help at events and details are available on the arts festival website from volunteer co-ordinator Tina Filby.

Tasks range from stewarding to handing out programmes, as well as many other jobs which “make the festival run smoothly.”

Further information about volunteering, as well as full programme and details of booking tickets at www.roystonartsfestival.org.