A SOULFUL jazz festival that was saved by a Chipping Norton musician has been declared a huge success.

Jazz musician Dave Favis-Mortlock heard in July this year the Chippy Jazz and Music Festival was under threat and, determined to save it, he booked at least 15 bands and nine venues in two months.

Every September for the past 17 years the event has been held, but when founder Mike Howse died last year, it threw into doubt whether the event would continue. But university lecturer Dr Favis-Mortlock stepped in to save the day He said: “We are so happy that we managed to put on anything. We’ve had some very positive comments.”

The festival raised money for Lawrence Home Nursing Team in Chipping Norton, disability charity Special Effect and the End Polio Now campaign.