THE final line-up for this year's Grassington Festival has been completed and is jammed packed with great entertainment for all.

This will be the 25th festival and the last with Rowena (Bunty) Leder as artistic director, so the pressure is on to make it unforgettable.

"As this is to be my last festival after 17 years, the committee has indulged me and I have pulled out all the stops to include some great acts, including some old favourites and plenty of newcomers to the Dales," said Bunty.

The festival will run from June 17 to July 3 and among the acts confirmed are singer Elkie Brooks, the John Miller Orchestra, poet Pam Ayres, pianist John Lill, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, television presenter Esther Rantzen and Likely Lads star Rodney Bewes.

The fortnight kicks off with the "Salute to the Rat Pack" - with Richard Shelton as Frank Sinatra and Alex Giannini as Dean Martin - and comes fresh from the West End. The singers will be accompanied by the Pete Long Orchestra.

Jazz lovers will be able to enjoy performances from the eight-piece New Italian Radio Orchestra led by saxophonist Alan Barnes and featuring singer Liz Fletcher and pianist Dave Newton.

The John Miller Orchestra will also be performing a special concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on Tuesday June 29.

To mark the final weekend of the festival three major events will be held in the Jubilee Marquee with its capacity for 600 seats. These will feature singer Elkie Brooks, soul band The Commitments and Airedale Symphony Orchestra and members of the Opera North chorus in a Last Night of the Proms-style event. It will conclude with a firework spectacular.

There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved and learn new skills.

On Saturday June 18 there will be beginners and advanced dry-stone walling classes and The Swingle Sisters will also be offering a master class for adult singers on Thursday June 30.

Other highlights include the return of The Reduced Shakespeare Company for a third visit and Rodney Bewes, star of 70s sitcom The Likely Lads, brings his acclaimed solo adaptation of Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat to the festival.

David Battie, of BBC's Antiques Roadshow, hosts this year's special interest day on Tuesday June 21.

As always there will be an array of free live music in Grassington's main square on each Saturday of the festival featuring Giggleswick School Band, North Stars Steel Orchestra, Bradford Grammar School, Sedbergh School CCF Band and Corps of Drums, Harrogate Youth Jazz Orchestra and Tewitt Youth Brass Band.

For full details of the 2005 programme and to book, contact the Festival Box Office on 01756 752691 or visit www.grassington-festival.org.uk.

Public and telephone bookings open on May 9 - postal bookings can be sent in advance but will not be dealt with until May 9.