THIS year’s expanded Burnley Blues Festival will feature a ‘blues walk’ for the first time this year.

Trail of Blues - The Jewel Walk, will be led by blues star Paul Waterworth, who has a 40-year career in the music industry, and will feature history of blues and the cotton industry in the area.

The route will start at Jack Moore Monkey restaurant, off Barden Lane, and go along the canal to recognise how cotton was historically transported.

The group will then be given a tour around the countryside at Brierfield before walking to the Jewel Mill site where a waterwheel was once used.

Finally, Mr Waterworth will lead the group back to Barden Mill.

Mr Waterworth will talk about how cotton production started in Lancashire and the link it has with blues music.

He said: “The council asked me to be the leader of the walk because I grew up in the area around where the blues link started.

“I am just very chatty so it will be great to talk to some people who have never seen the countryside.”

Mr Whitaker will play music on a blues harp, which is a kind of harmonica, throughout the tour.

He is well-known in East Lancashire for his performances with the Uptown Band and at bars, clubs and festivals across the area.

Jacqueline Whitaker, visitor economy manager at Burnley Council, said: “This year the Blues Festival has moved to the same time as the Walking Festival, so I thought it would be nice to link the two events together.

“The organisers came up with Paul to lead the walk because he is really enthusiastic and keen.”

Trail of Blues - The Jewel Walk will take place on May 5 at 1pm and last around 90 minutes.

Information about the festivals and all of the free walks is available from the Visit Burnley Centre, in Manchester Road.