THE Big Chill music festival, which attracts tens of thousands of revellers to Ledbury every year, will go ahead in 2010 despite the company behind it going into voluntary liquidation.

Its survival and continued presence at Eastnor Castle’s deer park has been secured by the promoter behind Glastonbury Festival and the Reading and Leeds rock festivals.

The event provides a boost to the local economy in the summer, with visitors travelling from all over the UK and further afield to enjoy three days of live music, DJs, comedy and film.

It also provides jobs such as stewarding and security for local people.

Ledbury’s mayor Chris Holbourn described it as a “fantastic” event. He said: “It helps the supermarkets but also the small traders as they use the cafes and the retail outlets.”

Festival Republic has added the major event to its roster after Chillfest – which has run the Big Chill since 2003 – was wound up on October 15.

The creative team behind the event, which this year attracted performers such as Basement Jaxx, Orbital and David Byrne, will remain the same with long-time creative director Katrina Larkin continuing in her role.

She said: “We felt the responsible thing to do was not to sell tickets but to look for a buyer to guarantee its future.”

Next year’s Big Chill runs from Thursday, August 5, to Sunday, August 8.