Excitement is gearing up as an annual soapbox challenge returns to East Lancashire at the end of this month.

The Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge returns on Saturday August 26 from 10am until 4pm with a spectacular line-up of events.

More than 15,000 people flocked to Accrington for the event in 2022 and they are expected to return in their thousands this year for Amazing Accrington's biggest and busiest attraction.

The event gets under way at 10am when the pits open, with karts on display in front of the town square.

The road will be closed for the event from Property Shop on Blackburn Road, down into Town Square in Accrington Town Centre, creating a 170-metre long Soapbox track for competitors to race down.

There will be pit lanes and raised areas to ensure a good view of the soapbox vehicles and the track will include jumps, and water jumps, with competitors squirted with water pistols.

All profits made from entry fees will go to Maundy Relief, the charity set up to benefit the people of Hyndburn. It has raised more than £5,000 to date for them.

Each year competitors are challenged to create a four-wheeled non-motorised soapbox vehicle, using only gravity for fuel and speed.

The soapbox must have a form of steering, the ability to brake and competitor safety helmets must be worn - aside from that, there are no rules - it's simply the first to reach the finishing line wins.

The first heat of racing gets under way at 11am, followed by the second heat at 2pm and the announcement of the winners at 3pm

This year, an interval will be added between the karting featuring acts from Brazilian-style dancers and the Blackburn Festival of Light Street Band, to Vuvuzelas and performances from popular ska band Blowjangles and the Hyndburn Comets Majorettes, making the event a great chance to enjoy the August Bank Holiday weekend in style.

Visitors will also be encouraged to use the interval to visit eateries, to shop local and enjoy the food and drink on offer.

Back by popular demand, The Code Show will be a free attraction in Accrington Market Hall on the day celebrating how 1980s Britain embraced the home computer.

Exhibits also on display include a Sinclair C5 and 1980s technology, such as a dial up telephone and video recorder.

Sponsors for the event include Hyndburn Borough Council, Sundown Solutions, Accrington and Rossendale College, Boohoo and Financial Affairs.

Cllr Marlene Haworth, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "We're looking forward to the Soapbox Challenge - it's a really busy, well-supported event for the town. It's great to see the town filled with people enjoying themselves, and it really helps our local shops, traders and eateries to see so many visitors."

Murray Dawson, chair of Amazing Accrington, commented: "The Soapbox Challenge is one of Accrington's flagship events and we love the challenge set to us every year to make it even bigger and better. We have a fantastic line-up of attractions for everyone to enjoy this year and with the addition of an interval for people to shop local and grab a bite to eat, this is going to be an amazing day for all the family."