FOOTBALL fever hits Ramsbottom this weekend as the town holds its own final championship matches on the day England take on France in Euro 2004.

The football five-a-aside finals of Ramsbottom's Sports Week will take place during the town's annual family fun and sports festival on Sunday.

Now in its 34th year, the festival on Nuttall Park brings to a close Ramsbottom's celebration of sport -- although the final sporting event, the popular fell race, will take place next Thursday.

The football finals will take place alongside a show featuring classic cars, a cavalcade run through the town centre starting at noon and martial arts displays in Aikido, karate and kendo.

For the children, there will be races and crafts, remote-control car racing and a fun fair.

Adults have a beer tent and a car boot sale.

Yvonne Creswell, chairman of organising body the Ramsbottom and District Advisory Council, said: "Sports Week is an important event in Ramsbottom bringing together old and young united in sport. Our participants take sport seriously but at the same time enjoy their competitive participation and their enthusiasm for their chosen sport can be seen throughout Sports Week.

"Our Sports Week ends with a fun day in Nuttall Park and we are delighted to see that so many people support our efforts to provide a family day's entertainment."