A rural craft centre for adults with learning difficulties is to hold a music festival this afternoon and evening to promote two worthy causes.

Eight bands are due to play at the Littlefest event at Lainey’s Farm, Pagehurst Road, in Staplehurst.

The line-up includes The Relics Pink Floyd tribute band, Fingles Cave and Bullshed.

The fun kicks off at 2pm, when the Mayor of Maidstone will declare the festival open, and finishes at midnight, although some festival-goers are staying over-night in tents.

The entertainment includes a disco, hog roast, bouncy castles, a kids tent, a bar with real ale from the Tonbridge Brewery and a bonfire.

Entry is £20, and tickets must be bought in advance.

It is the third year running the farm has hosted a music festival. This time the proceeds will be split between the Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance and Eliana’s Wish to Run campaign.

Two-year-old Eliana Farragher from Headcorn Road, Staplehurst, was born prematurely at 32 weeks and suffered brain damage, causing her to have diplegic cerebral palsy and sight problems.

The youngster is a suitable candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a spinal cord operation that could eliminate the problems with her legs and one day enable her to walk without pain or difficulty.

But the treatment is currently not available on the NHS, and her parents’ best hope is to pay for her to have the operation in the US.

Her mother Catherine, a teaching assistant, said: “Eliana is very wobbly on her legs and can’t judge distances because of her eyesight. We can’t do anything about that but we can do something about her legs.

“She will always be at a disadvantage with her sight, but no one will know that to look at her.

“My dream would be for her to be able to walk into school on that first day and to look and feel no different from everyone else.”

Mrs Farragher and her husband Ray need to raise £85,000 to pay for Eliana’s operation and subsequent physiotherapy.

To make a donation, visit http://bit.ly/1U4SYrk

For ticket inquiries to Littlefest, email toby@laineysfarm.co.uk