PUB owners have put their hands in their pockets in a bid to help a music festival.

After a funding crisis threatened to reduce the size of Holywell’s Well Inn music festival, landlords from the town’s high street have sponsored bands for the one-day event on September 10.

Scores of bands are now set to play at 10 venues, including a main stage near the town’s Tower Gardens.

So far more than £3,000 has been donated by traders.

Alan Moore, owner of the Old Wine Vaults said: “I am happy to see a true community-based event taking place in Holywell. I would encourage all local businesses to put their hands in their pockets to ensure it is an amazing day and hopefully it is the first of many. It is up for the people of Holywell to make Holywell a nicer place to live.”

Funding has also been secured from the Boar’s Head, Victoria Hotel, The Stamford Gate, the Royal Oak and the Feathers.

The festival is part of a series of events taking place in the town this summer in a bid to attract more people to the town.

A farmers’ market will take place on the last Friday of every month while a street Olympics will be held on August 20.

Former Holywell mayor, Cllr Peter Curtis, has paid for Hell and the Tides to play at the festival from his own money.

He said: “They are a Bagillt and Holywell band and in my opinion they are the best in North Wales.

“This festival will be a huge benefit for Holywell. We are expecting a lot of people.

We hope it will bring trade to the town.

“It is all good news for Holywell at the moment. We are trying to bring things to Holywell, there is a lot of money being invested. I hope the town has turned a corner.”

Holywell has a new website promoting the town which launched in June while a £1m church and community centre has been given planning permission.

Pub giant Wetherspoon opened a new £1m pub in the town centre last month.

Organiser Shelly Barratt said: “All the pubs on the high street stepped in and put money in to pay the artists that will play on the main stage.

“The support is amazing. All the support has come from the small and medium sized enterprises.

“With the events we have held so far traders have said there has been an increase in sales. Bringing people to the town does have an effect on business.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring the event can contact 07888840898.