TWESTIVALS have been described as the Live Aid of the tech world, and the last one in London saw 700 people queuing in the snow to claim their place.

Now organisers in Nottingham hope to raise hundreds of pounds through one of the events, for people who know each other through micro-blogging website Twitter.

Called Twestival Local, it will be the first time Tweeters have been able to raise money locally for a charity of their choice.

Twestival Global, in February, saw £250,000 raised in 202 cities across the world for charity: water and £250 of this came from Nottingham.

Martin Wright, a 34-year-old software tester and organiser of both Nottingham Twestival events, said: "The first event struck a chord with me. It seemed like a great way to help a charity out.

"It's also an excuse to meet people who I was friends with on Twitter, and that event was the first time a lot of people had seen each other in the flesh."

The stigma once attached to blogging and meeting friends via the internet has been shaken, and Twestivals are more likely to be attended by young hipsters than internet geeks.

Tweeters in Nottingham have chosen the charity themselves, opting for the National Autistic Society.

Martin hopes to raise at least £500 from the £5 entry fee, but is looking for local businesses to sponsor the event and boost the total.

Twitter allows users to post messages about their movements in no more than 140 characters.

Celebrity Tweeters include Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lily Allen, Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry.

Nottingham Twestival will be held at Muse, in Broad Street, Hockley, on Thursday, September 10.

Other Twestival Local events will be held around the world on the same day, as well as September 11 and 12.

"We're hoping to see lots of Nottingham Twitter users coming along to have an amazing time with us and generate lots of cash and awareness," said Martin.

For information about sponsoring the event go to http://nottingham.twestival.com