FANS OF Queen and Australia's most famous pop singer have been flooding the box office for the Tenbury Festival.

But organisers want to see a boost in demand for other events, including a high-profile wine and cheese tasting and for a production with a difference by Zip Theatre.

The two biggest-selling attractions are at the beginning and end of the festival, which runs from April 4 to 12. As soon as Tenbury mayor, Councillor Keith Griffiths, opens proceedings at 8pm on the first day, the Regal Cinema will buzz to the sound of Ollie Hughes as Robbie Williams and Claire Louise Renvoize is Kylee.

Tickets are selling fast for the Festival's other major tribute act, Kings of Queen at Cadmore Lodge, on April 12. A celebration of Freddie Mercury and Queen, the band offers "a high energy non-stop performance that will make you wonder if you are actually hearing and seeing the real thing".

The night before features another strongly-selling event, a charity variety concert at the Regal, featuring mayor Griffiths as master of ceremonies.

There are still plenty of tickets available for other attractions. Former chief taster for a major supermarket chain, Norman Weller, will conduct a wine and cheese tasting at St Michael's Village Hall on April 5. It will be combined with the magic of conjuror Kevin Smith.

Equally intriguing is Zip Theatre's production of Dream Raiders at the Regal on April 9. It invites the audience of all ages to "join Freddie, Zena, Lara and Queen Armadillo for a roller coaster ride of challenges, dangers and terrors and to find out what a wardrobitron really is".

This year's festival was moved from March to April to take advantage of a late Easter and the start of British Summer Time. That was fortunate for the Food Fayre in Tenbury's Round Market on April 5.

"If it had been held on the normal date, visitors would have had to put up with the road digging and traffic disruption we endured last weekend," said the Festival Association's Judith Gallimore.

The box office is at Books, Books, Books, 25 Teme Street (01584 819587).