BRIGHTON FESTIVAL OFFERS

ESSENTIAL MUSIC FEST

Take this chance to win tickets for two of the major attractions at the 31st Brighton Festival, which opens today and runs until 25 May.

We have five pairs of tickets on offer for Keeping Tabs at The Dome on Thursday 15 May - a rare chance to hear Irvine Welsh talk live about his work, from his first novel, Trainspotting, to his latest work, Ecstasy, published last year.

Opera is well represented at the festival with productions of The Sorcerer's Daughter 22-24 May, and Madam Butterfly 15-16 May at the Theatre Royal. Specially commissioned for the festival is New Sussex Opera's production of Gottfried von Einem's Danton's Death, which will be performed at The Dome on 7 and 10 May. A British premiere, it is 50 years since its first performance at the Salzburg Festival.

We have five pairs of top-price tickets on offer for 10 May performance.

The first five readers to call 01273 709709, after 10am on Monday 5 May, quoting the Irvine Welsh offer will each win a pair of tickets for Keeping Tabs.

The first five readers to call 01273 709709 quoting the Danton's Death offer will each win a pair of tickets for Von Einem's opera. Brighton also plays host to the Essential Music Festival, at Stanmer Park from 24 to 26 May. We have five pairs of tickets on offer for each of its three themed days: Dance Day on 24 May, Indie Day on 25 May and Roots Day on 26 May.

Groove around by the open-air Essential Main Stage, or in one of the six covered arenas, along with an expected crowd of more than 16,000 on each day and party to the likes of the Chemical Brothers, The Levellers and the Brand New Heavies.

Dance aficionados will not want to miss The Future Sound of London (above) who will be making the first ever live ISDN broadcast to an outdoor event - a fitting finale to the Dance Day, with a fully interactive link-up between FSoL's Earthbeat studio and the main stage. The Roots Day is the largest black music event in Europe, and plays host to top reggae artists, a hip-hop arena featuring Ice T and Grandmaster Flash, and a jazz funk arena.

To enter, name the Chemical Brothers' latest album. Send your answers on a postcard, by 9 May, including which day you would like to attend, to: Eye/ Essential Offer, 9 Church St, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1US. Winners will be picked at random from the post-bag. The first 10 cards pulled from the hat will also receive a free T-shirt by Hype Energy, one of the festival's sponsors. For more info, call the festival hotline: 0891 230190. Calls cost 50p per minute.

PERFICK CHANCE TO EXPLORE SUSSEX FOR FREE

The classic home-grown comedy, The Darling Buds of May returns to our screens on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm from 4 May on UK Gold.

Based on the novels by HE Bates, the series follows the everyday trials, tribulations and cakes of the happy-go-lucky Larkins - Ma (Pam Ferris), Pa (David Jason), elder daughter Mariette (Catherine Zeta Jones) and the rest of the clan. The Eye and UK Gold have teamed up to offer a package of "perfick" prizes to celebrate the repeat of the series.

First prize, for the first correct entry out of the hat, is a two-night stay (for two people), B&B, at The Playden Oasts Hotel (far right), in Playden, Rye, East Sussex (01797 223502); pounds 100 spending money, all travel expenses to and from the hotel, The Darling Buds of May, Vol Three on video, and a set of cookery books: Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book, Mary Berry at Home and Delia Smith's Complete Illustrated Cookery Course.

Ten runners-up will each receive Darling Buds Vol Three on video, and a set of cookery books as above.

To enter answer this question: What is Mariette's husband's name in The Darling Buds of May?

Send your postcards by 9 May to: Eye/ Darling Buds of May offer, PO Box 6139, London W3 7ZU. The first correct entries pulled from the hat will win.