THE team behind the MFor Festival are glad to have the final go-ahead for this year's event at the end of the month.

As the government confirms that it is going full speed ahead with its plans to lift the last lockdown-related restrictions on July 19, organisers of the two-day Lydiard Park music event are looking forward to kicking off on Friday July 30.

The line-up includes sets from Craig David, Sigala, Ella Henderson, By Your Side hitmaker RAYE, the original Artful Dodger, Mark Hill, GRACEY, and Phats and Small.

Along with the two stages, the festival will feature plenty of family-friendly fun and games like a climbing wall, axe throwing, and zorbing.

A Challenger 2 tank will be parked in the park for festival-goers to look around and give them a taste of military life.

The tank is being displayed at the event by the Royal Wessex Yeomanry to highlight the event’s mission to raise funds for veteran, military and mental health charities.

Graham Stobbs and Debra Collins said: “It’s exciting to get the final go-ahead from the government. We can’t wait to bring MFor back to Lydiard Park this year.

"The line-up and entertainment will be second to none. We are honoured that we will have Challenger 2 tank at the event as this will really help with our fundraising efforts.”

For the first time, this year's festival will host a Friday night over-18s dance night at the end of the festival's first day, featuring Five, S Club, Liberty X, Baby D and Rozalla.

On Saturday, the festival itself will run for extended hours from 11am to 10.30pm.

As in 2019, the event will support former military servicemen and women and raise awareness of mental health issues, so fundraising will take place during the day for charities including ‘Walking with the Wounded’ and Swindon community projects such as The Veterans Hub Swindon.

Mfor founder Graham Stobbs is set to raise even more funds for The Veterans Hub Swindon this August too.

Following his epic 322-mile kayak in 2020, he will be taking on his biggest adventure to date. His ‘One Foot Forward’ challenge will see him set off on August 21 to walk from Minehead round the Cornish coast to Poole Harbour.

The 630-mile walk will take place on consecutive days, completely unsupported and will take between 30 and 40 days to complete. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/onefootforward630

To find out more about Mfor and buy tickets visit www.mforfestival.co.uk.