PRESTON'S colourful cultures will come together for the town's first ever Mela festival, this Sunday (September 7).

The free event on Avenham Park features a feast of music, food, clothes and arts to celebrate the whole range of South Asian traditions.

A large marquee will house stalls offering henna painting, advice and information, exhibitions and workshops.

Indian band Night Shift and other local groups will take to the main band stand. A second stage will feature traditional and classical dance performances in Indian, Kawali and Banghra styles.

The town centre park will be a flourish of colour, decked with flags specially designed by local children who took part in workshops organised by voluntary arts group Prescap.

Bhiku Patel, racial equality officer for Preston Council, said: "It's an ideal way of celebrating the town's multi-cultural diversity."

The Mela festival takes place throughout the country and abroad to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan. The action kicks off at 1pm and finishes at around 8pm.

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