ORGANISERS of the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival have announced that there will be a new stage at this year's event.

Situated at Prince of Wales Pier, it will be the fourth main stage at the festival – alongside those at Events Square, Custom House Quay and The Moor – and will be called the Falmouth Packet stage as the newspaper's involvement as media partner for the event strengthens.

The festival, which takes place this year between June 14 and 16, continues to grow across the town and organisers said they were delighted to realise the dream of a long-awaited fourth main stage.

One of the organisers, John Warren, said it would help to "better showcase the hugely talented performers who give their time freely to benefit Falmouth RNLI", which is the charity that the festival raises money for.

The fourth stage has been made possible thanks to South West Bars and Events, which is providing the stage and sound engineers, and the Packet's partnership.

Access to the new stage will be via the Pier Cafe, which will provide refreshments throughout.

John said: "This represents an exciting development for this great festival, enabling more people to enjoy more shanty groups performing on a professionally managed stage.

"We are looking forward to the Packet editor joining in with the Falmouth Packet Shanty written by Roger Bryant of Rum and Shrub Shantymen!"

Packet editor Steve Smith added: "We are delighted to give our name to the new stage at the festival and we're very happy to strengthen our involvement with the event as media partner.

"We can't wait for June to come around and we'll have plenty of coverage before, during and after the festival on our website and in print."

The newspaper will continue to give its name to the festival's Saturday night Falmouth Packet Shanty Concert.

Featuring Tom Lewis, Les Marins Des Abers, The Molgoggers and Short Drag Roger, it is the only part of the festival that requires a ticket. They cost £15 from The Poly Box Office on 01326 319461 or online at www.thepoly.org

More than 60 groups will be singing at 25 venues around town across the weekend.