BURY town centre will be taken over by local and international artists - and you're all invited, for free.

It's the second "Streets Ahead" extravaganza, Bury's contribution to the Greater Manchester annual festival of street entertainment, and it arrives here on Monday (April 5).

More than 12,000 people are expected to flock to the town for four hours of fun.

Performers from as far afield as Australia, Japan, the USA, France and Spain join local artists for a feast of theatre, music, circus, dance and comedy.

The action will take place at five sites around the town centre: Kay Gardens, Market Place, The Wylde, and two locations on The Rock.

The fun starts outside Bury Metrolink Station at 1pm, with a colourful carnival parade along Market Street and The Rock, building to a dramatic climax of mascleta firecrackers from Spain as the day draws to a close at 5pm.

Roads will be closed to traffic around Market Place, from the top of Bolton Street to the bottom of Market Street where it meets Broad Street, from 6am to 6pm.

Town centre car parks will be free and the Castlecroft car park off Bolton Street will re-open for the occasion.

Market traders will also be setting up stalls on the traffic-free streets, and Thomas the Tank Engine will visit the East Lancs Railway.

The festival is organised by Manchester International Arts and has been brought to Bury by a partnership between the Met arts centre, Bury Chamber of Trade and Bury Council.

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