IT may not boast such world-famous acts as Coldplay and U2, but that's what makes it special - and now organisers of the Big Chill Festival have the award to prove it.

The annual event - held at Eastnor Castle near Ledbury, Herefordshire, for the past three years - has been named as the festival with the Best Cult Following in the UK Festival Awards 2005.

The competition is now in its second year and is organised by website virtualfestivals.com with members of the public voting for their favourite event.

It saw votes stream in from more than 30,000 festival fans over the past three weeks, with the winners announced this week.

The Big Chill initially started out as a one-day event at London's Islington Union Chapel in 1994 but has gone from strength to strength since, setting up camp at the deer park in the grounds of Eastnor Castle in 2002.

The three-day-festival aims to offer an alternative, more relaxed atmosphere to some of the more mainstream outdoor music events such as Glastonbury, which itself has grown from the cult event it started as to a massive musical spectacular.

This year's Big Chill Festival saw about 30,000 flock to the grounds of the picturesque Herefordshire castle to hear the likes of Saint Etienne, ex-Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell and previous Mercury Music Prize nominee Nitin Sawhney play.

But it is not just about the music, with body and soul areas providing therapies and a variety of massages, film and comedy tents among the other usual attractions. In the true spirit of the festival, the organisers played down winning the prestigious award.

Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin, co-founders of The Big Chill, said: "Thank you to those who voted for us - we must have to admit, we're giggling at the word 'Cult'!

"Please just remember all are very, very welcome to come to The Big Chill."

The festival awards are acknowledged industry-wide as recognition of the contribution made by event organisers, artists and festival goers to the music industry and popular culture.

Other categories included Best Major Festival, Best One Day Festival, Best Live Newcomer and Anthem of The Summer.

News of the Big Chill's success comes as organisers announce tickets have now gone on sale for next year's event, due to take place at Eastnor Castle from Friday, August 4 to Sunday, August 6.

Adult tickets for the weekend are £120 plus a booking fee. More information is available at www.bigchill.net