NO OLD Laundry festival would be the same without the strings of the Lindsays.

This time around the quartet is performing a Classical Music Weekend as part of the Bowness venue's tenth anniversary festival.

On Friday, October 4, the foursome play works by Haydn, Janacek and Beethoven, teaming up on the Saturday night (8pm) for Schubert, Elgar and Mendelsshon's Octet, with the superb Sorrel Quartet.

Meanwhile, the same Saturday afternoon (2pm), the Lindsays perform a children's concert specially commissioned by the Old Laundry as part of its ten-year celebrations.

Old Laundry trustee, journalist and broadcaster, Paul Allen, has written the gripping and moving tale Ghost of the Cello, interwoven by Haydn's String Quartet in C The Emperor, performed by the Lindsays.

An added treat is Berlie Doherty's magical tale Blue John, told to the music of the Smetana String Quartet.

Another festival first is the Songwriters in the Round on Thursday, October 3, with a fab-four of folk music song-smiths - Clive Gregson, Kirsty McGee, Kristina Olsen and Jez Lowe.

The classic and dramatic Brecht tale of Grusha, the servant girl, is the excellent Old Laundry Theatre Group's festival contribution in The Caucasian Chalk Circles from Wednesday, October 9 until Saturday, October 12 (8pm).

The impressive cast includes some of the region's own top performers including Hilary Pezet, David Williams, Judith Notley, Guy Pocock, Lucinda Hayton, and John Cash with stirring music composed by Andrew Leavett.

The word from director Richard Foster is "everything is going to plan" for what promises to be one of the theatrical highlights of the 2002 festival.

Other well-known faces appearing at the festival include explorer Benedict Allen (October 17); comedian, presenter and flavour-of-the-month travel writer, Pete McCarthy (October 19); and author Beryl Bainbridge (October 27).

Benedict will give a refreshing insight into his mind-blowing adventures across the Namibia Desert and Siberia, and Mr McCarthy, who can't resist danger and stout, will re-live his second book The Road to McCarthy for the Bowness audience.

Dame Beryl will disclose tales of her past, her highs and lows, and just how it feels to be a top writer under pressure to make the deadline for the next book.

Billed again is another Old Laundry favourite - the innovative and very funny Linda Smith.

Fresh from Radio 4's News Quiz, Just a Minute, and Sorry I Haven't A Clue, she returns to Bowness as part of her sell-out tour on Sunday, October 20 (8pm).

Popular too are the players of NTC Theatre who yet again beat a path to South Lakeland, this time around staging Tartuffe - an outrageous and hilarious classic, on October 25/26 (8pm).

For full festival details, contact 015394-88444.