A DATE has been set for the summer visit of the Royal Marines Band from Portsmouth to a musical extravaganza in a Kent town.

The band will be at the Deal Memorial Bandstand at Walmer Green, Deal, on Sunday July 13 and thousands are expected to turn out for the popular annual event.

Bandstand trust PR officer Stephen Misson said: “We expect another huge audience this year.

“We know that many people plan their holidays to ensure they are in Deal for that date.”

Last year, the band’s visit attracted a record crowd of an estimated 5,000 people.

Mr Misson continued: “The 2008 season of concerts at Deal Memorial Bandstand will run from May 4 until September 28, which extends the season by one week at each end.

“This is because we have many more bands wanting to play at our bandstand that we have available dates.”

“The season will again include two evenings of swing with the Beverley Big Band and Railway Swing Band.

“Plus we will have the return of the ever-popular Old Comrades, a band of local former Royal Marines Band musicians on August 24.

“And musicians from the Band of the Essex Yeomanry will be making their first appearance at the bandstand.”

The programme for this year’s concerts should be available from the end of January from the tourist office at the Landmark Centre, High Street, and also from the East Kent Mercury at 13 Queen Street, Deal.

Deal Memorial Bandstand was built in 1992 as a result of the bombing of Deal’s Royal Marines barracks on September 22, 1989.

Eleven sides of the 12-sided structure feature engraved tablets with the names of those who died.

The bandstand memorial is a registered charity and built mainly thanks to donations through the Deal Round Table.

Concerts will not be held on July 20 and 27 when the fairground will occupy Walmer Green to mark Regatta Week.