THE Caribbean Carnival will have an extra special twist this year, thanks to a group of local youngsters.

Children with learning difficulties have been getting music lessons from the group Urban Strawberry Lunch who were seen across the world when they performed at the opening ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The Liverpool-based team have been teaching the youngsters drumming and dancing and, in a matter of weeks, will be joined by the children showing off their new talents at the Caribbean Carnival.

Vicky Sellers, disability arts officer for Preston City Council, set up the classes.

She said: "The children are really excited. For a lot of them it's the first time they've ever done this kind of thing.

"They're very excited and I think their parents are as well. They're absolutely over the moon."

The children are part of two groups set up by the council. The first, known as The Mix, is for seven to 11-year-olds from mainstream and special schools, and X Press is for 11 to 16-year-olds with learning difficulties.

The two clubs meet once a week at West View Leisure Centre, Preston, and on Monday, May 26, will play the instruments and music they have learned at the carnival, one of Preston's biggest events. Vicky said: "They have been doing costume design and designing the floats. The theme is from Africa to Preston, and they have been looking around the theme of travel.

"They have designed a range of costumes, from animals, like monkeys and tigers. There aren't any other groups like this in Lancashire. We're getting people coming from Lancaster, Blackburn and Burnley."