There IS a season ticket available after all according to the Hobgoblin advertisement in the 'fRoots' magazine but it costs £135 per person and only covers the Ham Marquee.

That must make it the most expensive festival season ticket anywhere in the U.K.

We've posted under 'Sidmouth Tickets' giving our views on this and adding that, reluctantly, we have cancelled our B&B booking for Sidmouth this year as tickets are being priced above our pocket.

We congratulate Hobgoblin on sponsoring the Ham Marquee but feel that a £135 season ticket for just one venue does not represent good value for money.

It's not the fault of Hobgoblin or whoever is organising the Ham Marquee. We guess it just reflects the fact that the costs of staging concerts in a marquee on the Ham cannot be covered without sponsorship from the local authority.

As the local authority has axed its sponsorship of Sidmouth Folk Week the concert costs can only be recouped through very high ticket prices but if these prices deter people like us from attending then the future for Sidmouth is bleak indeed.

It's all so very sad but we hope those who still attend the dances and free events at Sidmouth have a great time even if, like us, they cannot afford the cost of a season ticket for the main concert marquee.

Phil & Maggie McBride