A CASH boost has been given to those with their hands in one of Blackpool's most colourful and fun-filled events.

The organisers of Blackpool's highly successful Puppet Up! festival, Blackpool Town Centre Forum, have just been awarded £44,000 towards the event by the Regional Arts Lottery Programme, and they are delighted.

Plans are now well under way for the May event.

Nigel Hanson, Blackpool town centre manager said: "The funding will enable us to further develop Puppet Up! over the next three years to reinforce the festival as a major North West event. However, as in previous years, we still need to attract sponsorship and contributions from other businesses and organisations, which we are actively seeking." Puppet Up! 2001 will feature puppet building and performance workshops with schools, colleges and community groups, leading up to the festival weekend.

Exhibitions are taking place from April 23 in the Grundy Art Gallery, and from May 13 performances are being staged at the Grand Theatre.

The streets will also be full of open-access street performances, preceded on the Saturday (May 19) by a grand parade featuring the workshop creations, professional performers, giant puppets, Samba and jazz bands and celebrity puppets.

This year's festival, takes place during April and May with the main town centre events taking place from May 13 to the festival weekend of May 18-20.