CROONER Sir Tom Jones has been named as the big name headliner for this summer’s Cornbury Festival.

The Welsh singer, who has had a string of hits over five decades, will top the bill at the three-day music event at Great Tew, near Chipping Norton.

Festival director Hugh Phillimore said last night he was delighted to land the heartthrob and star of BBC 1’s The Voice, admitting the booking followed lengthy negotiations.

Joining Sir Tom on the bill at the 12th instalment of the popular festival from July10 to 12, are Motown legends Martha Reeves and the Vandellas; Billy Ocean; country music artists Hanks Wangford, The Shires and Ward Thomas; pop acts The Fratellis, Razorlight and Blue; and ‘rockney’ duo Chas and Dave.

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Also appearing are American Roots Rock sisters Larkin Poe, alternative folk act Paper Aeroplanes, blues artists Joanne Shaw-Taylor and James Hunter, rising stars Jack Savoretti, Chastity Brown and The Harbour, and X Factor group Only The Young.

They join the previously announced Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson.

Further acts are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

Mr Phillimore said he was delighted with this year’s bill, which is among the most impressive in the festival’s history.

“It’s not a bad line-up at all,”

he said. “We have been after Sir Tom for a while and I’m happy we finally got him.”