SPONSORS are needed to get Colchester’s comedy festival laughing for the third year running.

The festival, held in June for the last two years, has attracted top names to the town’s arts venues.

This year, it will be held between September 25 and October 4.

Acts already confirmed include Fred MacAulay, Jason Byrne, Hardeep Singh and Hal Cruttenden.

However, organisers need to raise about £10,000 to reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor responsible for culture, said: “I have been discussing it with Anthony Roberts, at Colchester Arts Centre, which is usually the lead organiser. We thought it could tie in with the Roman River Festival, to have something at the end of September or beginning of October.

“To try to get the full amount of funding, we are looking for sponsors.

“Colchester Council and, hopefully, Essex County Council will put funding in but we want to reduce the amount the public puts in.”

Mr Young said he estimated the councils could contribute £10,000 between them, leaving a £10,000 shortfall and urged sponsors to come forward. Arts centre director Mr Roberts said, as in previous years, all the town’s major arts venues’ including Firstsite, the Mercury Theatre, Charter Hall and the Minories gallery, would be involved.

He said changing the time of year the festival was held would tie in with when acts were on tour and suit university students because it was in their term time.

The event will coincide with the 16th Roman River Festival.

The festival has steadily grown in popularity over 15 years, and in 2014 more than 100 internationalquality performers gave 25 concerts in 15 unusual coastal venues in Essex.

Last year’s performers included Lee Nelson, Robin Ince, Miles Jupp, Rich Hall and performance poet, John Cooper Clarke.

! To get involved with the comedy festival, e-mail cllr.tim.young@ colchester.gov.uk