A MUSIC festival has been thrown into disarray after organisers received just one entrant for its prestigious Young Musicians of the Year contest.Now, with the clock ticking towards the deadline for nominations, organisers of the annual Bures Music Festival have made a last-ditch plea for entrants after the “disappointing” response from local schools.

A MUSIC festival has been thrown into disarray after organisers received just one entrant for its prestigious Young Musicians of the Year contest.

Now, with the clock ticking towards the deadline for nominations, organisers of the annual Bures Music Festival have made a last-ditch plea for entrants after the “disappointing” response from local schools.

Becky Butcher, organiser of the event, said it was particularly sad as groups were missing out on the chance to benefit from a festival grant which in previous years had paid for school instruments and even a grand piano.

Mrs Butcher said she had sent more than 30 letters out to schools across the Bures area but had only received a good response for individual singing and instrumental categories.

The only contenders for the young musicians competition is from a ten-child samba band at Acton Primary School.

The Young Musicians of the Year competition - for acts aged eight to 18 years old - is part of the festival, which also promotes blues, jazz, choral and soul music.

Details on how to enter the competition can be found at www.jazzbythestour.org.uk or from Mrs Butcher on 01787 227990.