VILLAGERS in Whitworth are bidding to bring back the spirit of the 1970s - with a rush cart festival.

Organisers hope the event - which sees bunches of rush plant built on the back of a cart - will bring villagers out on to the streets in September.

The cart, pulled by men, will follow a one-mile route through Whitworth, starting at the River Spodden before proceeding to the Red Lion pub in the village square.

Organiser Clive Morton said that he hoped that the festival would be popular with villagers.

He added: “We used to have a rush cart festival in Whitworth back in the 1970s but back then it was evening do, rather than the Sunday afternoon event we are planning this year.

“The rush carts originated from years ago when villagers used to take straw down to the church to pad out the floor.

“They are popular in towns and villages close to the Pennines, where rush grows.”

However, this year’s event - the first major festival in Whitworth since 2000 - will be a very different affair, with teams of dancers among the entertainment.

Mr Morton, of Shawforth, added: “In the last few years we have had the rush cart going on as a small-scale thing.

“Last year was a miss because we had no money and the last big one was about eight years ago.

“This year we have got no idea what to expect because it is a different format.

“We have got entertainment on and we are making it into a family afternoon event so hopefully there will be people of all ages there.”

The Whitworth rush cart festival is on Sunday September 7.