THE exciting spirit of the Mardi Gras comes to Colne for the Bank Holiday weekend for a new addition to the Blues Festival.

On Sunday and Monday street entertainers, musicians, market traders and craftsmen will combine to create a carnival focused on the market square in the centre of town.

The popular R and B Festival brings around 25,000 to Colne and this year some shopkeepers are staying open to make the most of the event.

The organisers of the street festival hope more traders will follow suite and seize the opportunity to promote their businesses.

The street entertainment begins shortly after lunch and continues until 6pm.

There will be a chance for children to learn a variety of circus skills, including how to juggle and to walk on stilts.

Music on both days will be from street bands steeped in happy, carnival music and dressed in wild and wacky outfits.

The street festival has attracted interests from specialist craft artists from a wide area.

Visitors will also be entertained by a specially-written drama tracing the history of the cotton trade and how it was linked to America's deep south, the home of the Blues.

Street festival organiser Joanne Johnson said: "The street festival and blues festival are rolled into one and will bring thousands of people into Colne.

"It promises to be a great weekend of entertainment for everyone and we are urging local traders to join in with the festival by staying open."

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