BLACKPOOL should be rocking with laughter this weekend as its first Comedy Festival reaches a climax.

Events range from street theatre to big name stars, with clown and comedy workshops for those who fancy raising their own laughs.

Organised by the Town Centre Forum, its manager Nigel Hanson said he hoped it would be the first of many: "I'm very happy that it's pulled together lots of venues to collaborate and maximise what's on offer for the benefit of the town.

"We hope to be able to establish a reputation for such events nationally, which will draw people in as well as providing something for the residents to enjoy and be proud of."

Expect to be bowled over by anyone from stiltwalkers to spoof ballroom dancers, space cadets, Laurel and Hardy look-alikes, the Splott Brothers, clowns and Professor Panic's Open Air Circus, performing all round the town centre.

Top of the bill at the Grand Theatre on Sunday night is the award-winning, rubber-limbed comedian, Lee Evans, who starred in Blackpool-based movie Funny Bones and more recently, Hollywood's Mouse Trap.

Saturday sees a host of events, with daytime comedy workshops at the Grand Theatre Studio and Chris Cresswell's If I Had A Gun I'd Shoot You comedy show in the evening.

The Odeon Cinema pitches in with pre-release showings of Stiff Upper Lips, a spoof period costume drama, starring Prunella Scales, Peter Ustinov, Brian Glover and Timothy West.

Meanwhile at Funny Girls revue bar in Queen Street you can catch a comedy spectacular in aid of charity on Saturday at 2pm.

North Pier features adult comedy The Other Side of Joey Blower all weekend and a comedy contest on Saturday at 9pm.

At the Tower, Harvey Seagar's Comedy Show entertains all weekend and offensive humourist Bernard Manning performs on Saturday.

At the Grundy Art Gallery in Queen Street you can make a clown of yourself in free Clown Masterclasses, with Dolfini teaching you how to clown around, starting at 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday and 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm on Sunday.

Schoolchildren have been involved in cartoon workshops at the Grundy, which also is staging its Funny Ha Ha and Funny Peculiar photo exhibitions.

Next year, the Town Centre Forum hopes to repeat its successful Puppet Festival, with the Comedy Festival returning in 2000.

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