IT has been a highlight of Oxfordshire's summer, attracting tens of thousands of music lovers, celebrities, Royals and even the former Prime Minister.

But, after 14 years, the curtain is coming down on Cornbury Music Festival.

The three-day event, which takes place at Great Tew, near Chipping Norton will celebrate one last year, before packing up for good.

As early bird tickets for next July's festival go on sale, festival director Hugh Phillimore promised the biggest and best show yet for the event's 'Grand Finale'.

He said the independently-run festival – nicknamed "Poshstock" because of its well-heeled clientele, country house setting, Pimms and champagne bars and VIP area – had repeatedly failed to break even, and faced increasing pressure from other events run by bigger operators, such as Wilderness, at Cornbury Park, and the Big Feastival, on Alex James's farm at Kingham, near Chipping Norton.

He said: “Putting on 14 festivals is having a pretty good shot at it, and I’ve just about been able to pull it off. But if it was making hundreds of thousands, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“We’ve had a fantastic run and are very proud of the lovely event we’ve created.

“We’ve hosted a marvellous annual party for our loyal audience – the odd royal, multi-generational families, aristocracy, prime ministers, film stars, farmers, rockers, and ladies who make exceedingly good cakes.

“We have found ourselves in the centre of a wonderful community and are proud that we’ve been able to benefit many local causes over the years."

The festival began life at Cornbury Park, but left in 2010 after going into liquidation, owing creditors almost £1.5m, moving to Great Tew, the following year, with Mr Phillimore running it alongside 3A Entertainments.

Over the years it has played host to some giants of popular music, with the likes of Paul Simon, Tom Jones, Robert Plant, Blondie, Amy Winehouse, Elvis Costello, Bryan Ferry, Hugh Laurie, Martha Reeves and Van Morrison gracing its stages.

However, Mr Phillimore has promised last 'hurrah'. He said: "I’m going to pull out all the stops with the biggest headliner ever.

“I can’t possibly reveal who yet, though. All I’ll say, is that I have been trying to book this artist for 20 years and have really worked hard. The rest of the line-up; is coming along too.”

We’re going out with a bang,” he says. “There will be big acts and really fun things – and we are going to throw our hearts into it. It will be the best celebration.”