An arts, dance and music festival will be held in Preston to celebrate the Sikh faith and the anniversaries of two major Sikh groups in the city.

The finishing touches are being put to celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Preston Sikh Cultural Association (PSCA) and the 25th anniversary of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Culture and Recreation Centre.

The event runs over two separate days.

On Tuesday April 18 at Preston Minster, Church Street, there will be a number of exhibitions, including the Principles of Sikh Faith, the Sikh Women exhibition, and a display tracking the PSCA's 20 year history.

Then on Sunday April 23 at Preston's Guild Hall, Lancaster Road, there will be a music and dance show with the sounds of local drumming band, PR Dholi. Bhangra music and dance will also be performed by internationally renowned band, Apna Sangeet.

There will also be demonstrations of gatka, a type of martial arts that originated in India.

Gulab Singh, of PSCA, said: "The festival is important because the Sikh community has been part of the make-up of Preston since the late 1950s.

"It is also important for people to learn about different cultures and the way people live so we all have a cultural perspective."

The Sikh community is currently celebrating Vaisakhi which marks the birth of the Sikh nation.

The public are invited to visit either the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Clarendon Street, Preston, or the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Culture and Recreation Centre, Tunbridge Street, Preston, to observe practices and learn more about Sikh culture.

Mr Singh said: "It's all about raising awareness and trying to draw in as many people as possible who are not predominantly from the Sikh community."

Clarendon Street temple is open on Friday April 14 between 9am and 3pm, the Tunbridge Street centre is open from 6pm.