It was the stage that helped put Oasis and the Spice Girls on the road to international success.

Now Avenham Park's historic bandstand will be bulldozed next month to make way for a new pavilion.

Invitations have been sent out to the city's movers and shakers for the dramatic demolition on Friday, March, 10, which will feature pyrotechnics and smoke effects.

It will mark the start of an ambitious £5m restoration project to renovate the park and key council figures will give a short presentation.

The bandstand was built to commemorate the Preston Guild of 1952 and has staged some of the largest outdoors events in Preston.

In 1992 the late Kirsty MacColl, famous for featuring in the Pogue's Fairytale in New York, played at the Big Top festival at the park.

During the heydays of Britpop in the 1990s the bandstand hosted Oasis, Space, the Spice Girls, and Jordan's other 'arf, Peter Andre.

In June 1994 a little known Manchester band Oasis played at the Heineken festival in the park. After the gig Melody Maker predicted they would be the 'next big thing' and their debut album, Definitely Maybe, went to number one later that summer.

Former girl band, the Spice Girls, appeared as part of the Party in Park festival in July 1996 -- it is believed the Avenham Park gig was one of the band's first major shows.

The stage has also hosted the Asian Mela and Jazzin' the Park.

Councillor Veronica Afrin, cabinet member for regeneration, community and leisure services, said: "It's sad to be demolishing the bandstand because it's part of the history of the park and Preston's social history.

"It is important that this is acknowledged, but we are providing an upgraded facility for the future generations."

She said the intention was to attract big names bands back to the park once the project was complete in the summer of 2007.

The new £1million state-of-the-art pavilion, designed by architect Ian McChesney, will feature a cafe, a conference room, a park rangers office, toilets, and an outdoor performance area. The current toilet block will be also be demolished.

Other improvements to the park include restoring railings and gates, improving cycle ways and drainage, installing new lighting.

The park's historic Swiss Chalet and Belvedere will also be renovated.

Russ Carlton, promoter at The Mill nightclub, said the basin shape of the park is good for staging musical events.

He added: "Any facilities that are going to help improve that are welcome, I'm really looking forward to what they are going to do."