POOR ticket sales and heavy rain failed to dampen the spirits of organisers of a classical music festival on a Dorset country estate.

The high-class Serenata Festival, set in 30 acres on Purbeck’s Smedmore Estate, had an expected turnout of 9,000 people over the three-day event but just 2,000 tickets were sold after the first two days.

Organisers hope that improved weather and last night’s performance by singing superstar Katherine Jenkins will boost sales.

Around 500 enthusiastic festival-goers enjoyed Thursday’s opening night, despite the downpour, with music from Emma Johnson, Britain’s Got Talent star Faryl Smith, the opera-singing boyband Blake and Geoff Sewell.

James Donald, spokesman for the event, said: “We’ve sold 2,000 tickets so far and we’re very much hoping for it to pick up.

“The weather’s improving and Katherine Jenkins has been very popular.

“It’s a new festival and we’ve had very good feedback and great coverage. There seems to be a lot of local people here, although I met some Blake fans who came down from Swansea.

“There’s been a lot of very avid Katherine Jenkins fans.”

Mr Donald added that he hoped Katherine’s ‘amazing’ fanbase would boost numbers for last night’s event.

Serenata is the first event of its kind to be held in Dorset with tickets costing from £55 for an adult one-day pass, to £600 per night for camping with a butler service. The festival site, overlooking Kimmeridge Bay, has brought together classical music with performances from world’s leading artists, the promotion of new artists, gourmet food, a full children’s programme and boutique and traditional camping.

The event is supporting two charities – the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Afghan Heroes.

Find out more at www.serenatafestival.com