TODAY is International Women's Day and guess what's happening in Southampton? Absolutely nothing.

Back in the 1990s there was a week-long festival with a diary of events including drama, talks and even a special Reclaim the Night march organised and promoted by the City Council.

But with each passing year the festival has steadily shrunk - until it has all but disappeared.

Lack of funds has led the council to withdraw support for the popular annual event and committed women's campaigner Carol Bishop says it is a sad day for women in the city.

Carol, who teaches singing and piano from her studio in Rownhams, is putting £1,300 of her own money into a special musical evening on Saturday, March 15 dealing with the death of Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

She said: "The council's input has reduced every year - last year they produced a programme of events but this year there is nothing. It saddens me that the council is no longer involved. The festival was a chance for women of all different backgrounds and cultures to get together and learn about each other.

"People did seem to think it was all about lesbians and women-only discos but there was far more to it than that."

A spokeswoman for Southampton City Council said: "Due to increasing pressures on resources we are unable to carry out the co-ordinating role for the 2003 festival events that has occurred in previous years."

She stressed that council funding for women's issues in the city had been ploughed into a new strategy aimed at tackling domestic violence and the Star Project which helps victims of rape.

Carol has bought a piece of music composed by rising star Alison Bauld.

"The piece has cost £1,000 - it is a scena or mini opera dealing with the death of Cleopatra," she explained.

Carol will be joined on stage by reader Christine Farleigh from Totton, pianist Karen Kingsley from Fareham and flautist Catherine Nicholson from Portsmouth for the performance of Witches, Asps and Hot Water Bottles at the Tudor Merchants Hall in Westgate Street.

Previous successes include an evening in honour of battleaxes - the term for strong women adopted by Christine Hamilton.

Tickets for Witches, Asps and Hot Water Bottles cost £8 on the door or ring 023 8073 2392 to book. Two talks will be held to mark International Women's Day. On Thursday, March 13, Mary South will discuss A Woman in a Man's World and on Thursday, March 20, Genevieve Bailey will be talking about The Life and Times of a Southampton Family. The talks are being held at the Tudor Merchants Hall, Westgate Street (off Bugle Street), Southampton, at a cost of £3.50 per person, which will include a free glass of wine. For further details please contact Jill Neal on 023 8063 5904.