BLACKPOOL is set to come to a standstill on the May bank holiday to make way for a three-day festival of arts and crafts.

Blackpool Town Centre Forum is planning to close Queen Street and Queen's Square, from Abingdon Street to the Promenade, to host a street party of painters, sculptors, dancers, jugglers and magicians.

The festival is part of an initiative by the forum to show Blackpool has a lot more to offer than kiss-me-quick hats and sticks of rock.

Nigel Hanson, the town centre's manager, said: "We hope it will be a great success and become an annual event which will gradually take over the whole of Blackpool and not just Queen Street."

The open air festival will also include an art exhibition at Blackpool library.

"There's a lot of talented people in the Fylde and we hope that the festival will generate a street party atmosphere," Mr Hanson added.

The festival will coincide with the International Dance Festival, a visit from Blackpool's twin town representatives from Bottrop, a folk art exhibition at the Grundy Art Gallery and the opening of Birley Street shopping precinct.

Blackpool councillors will discuss closing Queen Street at a meeting in the next few days.

If you are interested in taking part in the festival write to: Nigel Hanson, Blackpool Town Centre Forum, 8 Market Street, Blackpool, Lancs, FY1 1ET.

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