HUNDREDS of Colne residents have been sent a personal letter with a glossy programme urging them to attend The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in the town this weekend.

The new organisers of the 28th edition of the event have the usual range of international, UK and local stars are a variety of venues.

Running over the Bank Holiday from Friday to Sunday the festival has been rescued by Colne Town Council, after Pendle Leisure Trust withdrew its support and now its Events Committee chairman wants a big local turnout.

Cllr Ash Sutcliffe has sent out more than 1,800 letters to selected addresses in and around the town enclosing one of the 12,000 special brochures with details of the acts and venues involved asking for a £1 donation.

It said: “I’m really proud of the events we organise each year and wanted to let you know about our biggest event yet.

“For the past two years the Colne Blues Festival has been under threat.

“The Blues is incredibly important to Colne and we couldn’t let the event decline or, even rose be cancelled altogether.

“Over several months councillors have been working hard to ensure the festival is revitalised and remains one of Europe’s finest music festivals.

“The Blues Festival is only a success because of the support of local people, who attend and offer a warm welcome to those coming from further afield.

“So I hope you will join in the fun this year.I’ve enclosed a copy of the event programme so can can start to plan your unique Blues weekend experience.”

His appeal has been backed by Waterside councillor and deputy Pendle Borough leader, Cllr Tony Greaves, who said: “The Blues Festival is a great local and indeed international event. The more local people who like this sort of music who attend the better.

“I am very grateful to the town council for taking it over and doing a good job.”

Artists appearing include Grammy-nominated singer Janiva Magness, multiple British Blues Awards winners King King, rising homegrown stars Joanne Shaw Taylor and Aynsley Lister and Texas-based Lucky Peterson.

Cllr Sutcliffe said: “Tickets sales are going well and we have invested £60,000 upfront to keep the festival going.

“A lot of people are collecting the programmes from distribution points and putting a pound in the buckets.

“We hope to get as close to break-even point as possible to ensure its future.”

The festival gets underway on the Friday with triple bills at both Pendle Hippodrome and the main stage at the Muni.

The Blues Train will once again pull into Colne Station on Friday bringing music lovers from Preston picking up at stations as it travels through East Lancashire.

The Burnley Bus Company will run free shuttle buses to a number of the festival’s smaller ‘roadhouse’ venues.