A TWO-month festival of art, sport and culture in Blackburn got underway today.

Celebrate Blackburn is now in its third year after replacing the Arts in the Park and Mela events.

For the last two years, the event has been a month-long, but this year it has been extended.

Highlights include a BIG Weekend on July 23 and 24, including a beach being installed in King William Street and pianos in public places for people to play.

But opponents said budget cuts meant the event would be a ‘waste of money’.

This year the budget is £70,000, down from £90,000 last year and less than half the £150,000 cost of Arts in the Park and the Mela in 2007.

However, Coun Trevor Maxfield, executive member for culture and leisure, said: “We’re confident that the Celebrate Blackburn BIG Festival will be a very positive event.

“It promises to bring families into the town centre, helping to improve the economy at the same time.”

Coun Kate Hollern, opposition leader of the said: “Money spent on this type of event should help bring more money into the town, but if the budget is so small and the events barely noticeable, then it’s a waste.

“It is an insignificant amount to spend on a two-month event, and the council is letting people down by making them think something great is happening when in reality, it won’t be.”

The BIG weekend will also feature The Big Sing with Blackburn people’s choir, The Big Picture, a children’s pavement drawing event, The Big Curry, an outdoor curry festival, The Big Performance, where performers and entertainers take to the town's streets and the Big Night Out music festival.