A CLASSICAL music festival based in Wirral has said it’s been “blown away” by the response to its third festival.

Wirral Chamber Music Festival announced it would be returning this year for its third festival weekend after it was founded in 2021 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's leader Thelma Handy and Orchestra cellist Alex Holladay.

READ: Wirral Chamber Music Festival returns for 2023

Featuring a range of classical music concerts, there are six concerts to choose from in venues across the Wirral from Friday, June 30 until Sunday, July 2.

Festival Artistic Director Thelma Handy said she was “thrilled” by the public response to the community-based concerts, she told the Globe: “We took a risk this year by expanding our programme.

“We open on Friday with an upbeat concert from a trail-blazing vocal ensemble and we are also very fortunate to host international guitar stars The Katona Twins in Eastham on Saturday evening.

READ: Children go free at Wirral Chamber Music Festival

“We are so pleased that the Wirral community has been so supportive of these local concerts.”

The event will feature musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra alongside some of Wirral’s musicians and special guests. The festival will also showcase young local talent in two concerts and includes a family concert for all ages.

Children are free at all concerts and £1 from every ticket sold is donated to Claire House.