SOMERSET Rocks organisers have said they are "over the moon" with the public response to this year's big summer event.

Status Quo, Will Young and Jools Holland will headline the three-show event on the August bank holiday weekend, which is raising money for St Margaret’s hospice care.

Les Kidger, event director for Somerset Rocks, said: “The tickets are selling exceptionally well. We are over the moon with the response.

“It is all going swimmingly and the response has been fantastic. We are here with St Margaret’s team looking at the logistics of the event.

Ann Lee, chief executive of St Margaret’s hospice care, said: “It is going really well. We are really pleased and ticket sales are exceeding expectations.

“The main stage will be over there (near the southern entrance to Vivary Park) with a second smaller stage near the bandstand.”

There will also be a festival area north of the bandstand with stalls selling food and merchandise.

“There will be a seated stand and people will be able to get really close to the stage, Ann added.

“It is looking good. There are power points throughout the park and we are looking for all the trees to be lit up so it will be beautiful, just beautiful.

“We are looking to have 6,000 here for each evening and we are confident in ticket sales. There is something there for everybody.

“Most people buying tickets at the moment are from a TA post code but we know each of these acts have a fan base which will be drawn to the town.

“We brought £1.2million to the Taunton locality in terms of hotels and restaurants.

“We really want to help the local community and boost the economy so we are encouraging hotels to promote the event as well.”

Status Quo will be headlining on August 26, with Will Young taking to the stage on Saturday, August 27 and Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra performing on Sunday, August 28.

Even with seven months to go until the acts take to the stage, plans are already being put in place for next year’s event.

“We are really keen to build the momentum that started with Rod Stewart in 2014,” she said.

“We are looking for big strong acts that have a history. It is a challenge but yes we have got several acts lined up, I can’t say who though because it’s all a secret.

Les added: “Today I was talking with St Margaret’s and we are talking about making it an annual event, but before that we want to put on a great event in August. There are still tickets available.”