BLACKPOOL town centre is getting ready to take on a whole new identity this month - as two of the resort's streets go carnival style.

Artists, street entertainers, dance troupes and more, are set to gather in abundance for the Arts and Crafts Festival on Queen Street and the newly pedestrianised Birley Street for the coming bank holiday weekend - May 25 to 27.

And although it has already created enormous interest, with a myriad of delights to suit everyone, the organisers of the three day-event, Blackpool Town Forum, want even more - from buskers to street theatre productions.

Steve Saddler of the forum said: "We already have lots of bookings for the event including Blackpool Brass Band, theatrical performances from Blackpool and Fylde College, and the notorious Funny Girls.

"There will also be a balloon race in Birley Street and an art exhibition at Blackpool Library which is completely full now. There, local artists will be showing off their talents and selling their paintings at very reasonable rates.

"We do, however, desperately need more buskers, street entertainers and craft stalls to make sure the event goes off with a bang."

The festival has been funded through donations from businesses in the town centre and with help from Blackpool Council.

Town centre manager Nigel Hanson said: "The idea of the festival is to offer locals and visitors variety and activity.

"If the event proves to be as big a success as we are expecting, there is a possibility the festival will become an annual event."

The forum will be selling a prize programme in conjunction with the Blackpool 2000 project from next week which offers £500 worth of shopping vouchers and a Nile cruise. For more information contact Nigel Hanson on 25212.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.