Councillors have given an early Birthday present to organisers of a festival which prompted the building of an East Hampshire venue and landmark.

Next year sees the 125th birthday of the Petersfield Musical Festival with the nine-day extravaganza starting at Festival Hall on March 13.

The hall may not have existed without the festival as its popularity led to the construction of a bricks-and-mortar venue 90 years ago.

These days the Festival Hall is overseen by Petersfield Town Council with efforts being made to give the venue a multi-million pound revamp.

As a goodwill gesture and nod to the past, the council recently agreed to reduce the PMF’s booking fee by 70 per cent for in a move which thrilled Pam Buckley and committee members.

“That’s really huge to us,” she said, adding: “what a wonderful, wonderful gesture.

“On behalf of the PMF committee, thank you all.

“Next year the festival is 125 years old as it was started in 1901 so it’s all very apt.”

The recommendation to slash the PMF booking fee was made by town council venues manager, Sean Ridley, in recognition of the festival milestone.

Councillors also agreed to place the PMF in a “separate tier” of pricing with a larger concession in future years because of their history.

“Without the Festival, there would be no Festival Hall – we should, as an organisation, support our namesake,” said Mr Ridley.

Councillors heard PMF events previously took place in The Square before it was agreed a hall should be built as a place where “artists and entertainers from Petersfield and the wider area” could perform.

There was also much praise for Mr Ridley and the venue’s current popularity with performances by Milton Jones, Ed Byrne, The Upbeat Beatles and the PTG production of Guys & Dolls coming up.