A MUSICAL showcase in Blackburn - celebrating local talent - is set for an encore this weekend.

Promoters have been busy putting the finishing touches to the Mill Hill Festival for months ahead of tomorrow's event in New Chapel Park.

An organising committee revived the gathering for the first time last year after a decade gap, with a huge community fundraising drive aided by Blackburn with Darwen CVS Community Fund.

This year's incarnation has been backed by a talent contest at Mill Hill Club in February, where Aggie Kwiecien won the opening slot and several other acts got the chance to shine.

Headlining will be popular local singer Tracy Brogan, who helped to pick out the hopefuls to join her on stage earlier this year.

A spokesman said: " Our annual festival is all about promoting local talent - and we’re so fortunate to have many great local acts."

Other talent show standouts to perform include Girl Gone Rogue and Cathartica.

And returning after stellar showing at previous gatherings are Alphabetical Twins, festival favourites Cherrybomb and Paul Scholey.

Blackburn's Jacob Reddy will be performing ahead of his Glastonbury show, with his full band, and DJ Skippy is to compere, featuring Rachel McKimm.

Supporters of the festival include housing association Great Places, which donated £1,000 to the staging, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, which will be involved on the day, Newground and Tech Audio, providing sound facilities on-stage

Free children's activities courtesy of the borough's young people's service are planned, including a climbing wall, and organisers hope to have both Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Police along on the day.

Donations for this and future events will be sought via collection buckets and festival-goers are being urged to support local traders en-route.

For the event, New Chapel Street will be closed for much of the day between Parkinson Street and Francis Street with diversions in place and all local car parks will be open.