APPLICATIONS for this year's Penarth Summer Festival are now open.

Penarth Town Council are looking for organisations or groups in the town to volunteer to stage an event during the premier fixture in the Penarth annual calendar.

The 2016 festival will take place between July 7-17, with Carnival Day falling on July 16.

Last year's event took place over 12 days in July and culminated in thousands of people gathering on the Esplanade.

During the Summer Festival period there will be no charge for the use of town council facilities such as the Paget Rooms and the Kymin by festival participants.

But hire of the Kymin for festival events will be limited to weekends to allow regular hirers to use the facility as usual during the week.

Requests for the use of the Paget Rooms are usually very heavy so organisers ask that alternative dates are provided.

A spokesman for the town council said: "Although every attempt will be made to meet an organisation’s preferred date, no guarantee can be given and it may be necessary to allocate an alternative."

In the event of a conflict of requests, the festival committee may need to consider the merits of the respective events, bearing in mind the overall aim of providing a balanced and varied programme of entertainment for the festival.

The spokesman added: "It is individuals, groups and organisations stepping up who create the festival and its atmosphere.

"The town council will assist wherever possible in arrangements and acts as a catalyst for the programme, but there would be no programme without the hard work of the many individuals and groups who already take part.

"If you haven’t been involved before, why not come and join in?

"You can help to make the festival in 2016 both interesting and entertaining for local residents and visitors to our town."

For an application form, contact the deputy town clerk, Keri Hutchings on Keri Hutchings on 029 2071 3843 or email khutchings@penarthtowncouncil.gov.uk.