SIMISTER village will blossom and bloom with its annual Spring festival.

Based on the theme of "springtime", the festival is the highlight of the village calendar on Saturday, April 24.

The entertainment will commence at 11am with the traditional procession through the streets from St George's Church, led by the Moston and Beswick Band.

At 11.45am, the Rose Queen Sarah Owen (11) will be crowned by Mrs Ena Heywood and there will be a band concert outside the Lady Wilton Hall, in Nutt Lane, at 12.15pm.

The hall itself will be open from noon to 4pm for refreshments and a variety of stalls including crafts, toiletries, cakes and home produce, white elephant, plants jewellery and a tombola.

There will also be a bouncy castle, face painting and a bran tub for the younger visitors during the afternoon in the church grounds.

Admission will be 50p by programme only and children have free entrance.