A RENOWNED politician and well-known folk singer held their audience transfixed when they dropped in to a festival held in a small Yorkshire Dales village to give a rare performance.

Tony Benn, and folk singer Roy Bailey, received a standing ovation at the Dent Folk Festival on Saturday (June 23) with their show, The Writing on the Wall.

The performance involved the former politician, who was the longest serving MP in the Labour Party, speaking about the history of dissent in Britain, accompanied by folk music performed by Roy Bailey.

Festival organiser Alec Lyon described the pair's performance as "absolutely outstanding" and added that this year's Dent Festival was one of the best ever.

For story in full,see the June 29 Westmorland Gazette.

advertisement9:46am Friday 29th June 2007