A newly-formed environmental group in Wantage is joining forces with the town's youth centre to stage an outdoor rock extravaganza this summer.

Rock in the Park, the annual music festival organised by The Sweatbox centre, has been backed by the Little Green People, an eco-friendly group which was formed this year.

Spokesman Brad Day, 19, said: "This presents an amazing opportunity for our group to reach out to the local community and demonstrate that tackling climate change is not all doom and gloom, and can actually be a very inspiring and creating experience.

"We are grateful for everyone at The Sweatbox for their support and look forward to working to the run-up to the event at Wantage recreation ground on July 8-9."

The fair will be divided into four sections food, transport, energy and waste.

Mr Day said: "Each section will be full of fascinating ideas for how to make a difference, and as well as the Little Green People there will be environmental organisations from all around the country attending.

The group has also pledged to fight for the reopening of the Grove rail link to Didcot Broadway, which was judged to be of 'low priority' by Oxfordshire County Council, despite the fact that the Local Plan has already earmarked land on the former wartime airfield at Grove as a potential site for at least a further 2,500 homes.

Mr Day said: "We must demonstrate that this is still the case and keep the pressure on the council, the Government and the rail industry."

The Sweatbox, which has recently celebrated its first anniversary, following a lengthy refurbishment, is now rated as one of Oxfordshire's biggest successes, with more than 1,000 teenagers signed up.

Opening four or five times a week, and attracting a minimum of between 250 and 350 people each night, it draws young people looking for a trouble-free night out with friends from as far afield as Abingdon, Didcot and Faringdon.

Speaking on the plan to coordinate the Little Green People's plans with the Rock in the Park event, Gary Kingett, the area youth worker at The Sweatbox, described it as "a classic case of young people taking the initiative to both fund and organise a popular community event and to promote issues they feel are important."

Mr Kingett, 47, added: "It's their future world that the current adult generation are screwing up by our failure to prioritise environment over economics. It's really important the youth service supports groups like The Little Green People to get their message across."