The city of York is to launch a new comedy festival in 2015. The Great Yorkshire Fringe will run from July 24 to August 2.

The timing – immediately before the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – means that there is a strong chance that the organisers will be able to attract top Fringe comedians putting the final touches to their Edinburgh shows.

The Festival is the brainchild of Martin Witts, who is artistic director of the Leicester Square Theatre. Witts, who studied at the University of York and has Yorkshire family connections, also opened the Museum Of Comedy in London earlier this year. He worked as a carpenter and stage hand at York Theatre Royal between 1983 and 1985.

The first acts will be announced in November. The Festival is expected to use existing venues and will also erect its own comedy tent.