PLANS for a music festival in Clayton-le-Moors have been given a boost with the allocation of a £1,300 Area Council grant for carnival materials.

A second grant for £1,500 to contribute towards the cost of a stage for this year's 'Lark in the Park' was turned down as the grants were only available for capital funds but organisers say there is now enough money in the kitty anyway.

The event, organised by Friends of Mercer Park, is in its second year after the phenomenal success of the first event. It was initially organised as a one-off to provide a stage for local groups.

This year's event, on August 31 in Mercer Park, is scheduled to incorporate a carnival theme with art workshops to make banners, masks and costumes. In addition there will be DJ and dance workshops, an outdoor climbing wall and a dog show.

The Regional Arts Lottery Programme had already invested £15,000 in the initiative and more money was provided through Home Office funding, charities and local authority cash.

Workshops have started at local schools to help prepare for the event and put together an impressive collection of banners and bunting for the music festival.

Paul Hartley, one of the organisers, said: "This year's event will have the theme of cultural diversity and include a carnival parade with children from local youth groups and primary schools.

"One of the artists working with them was involved in the Notting Hill carnival so we are expecting impressive results. Everything is starting to come together, though we have not yet finalised the band list."