A FEAST of local and international music and entertainment is on the bill in Accrington this weekend -- and it's all free.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on the town as two music festivals take place in Oakhill Park, Accrington.

First up today is the town's Summer Music Festival which takes place from noon to 7pm. The event supersedes the traditional Sounds event, started 10 years ago and will feature a mixture of different styles of music to offer something for all ages.

Organisers of the festival, Hyndburn Council, selected 17 bands and acts after holding auditions for a place on the stage.

The event normally attracts 4,000 music fans, and organisers say they expect a similar turnout this year.

Acts scheduled to appear include rock band Tatters, guitarist Billy D, acoustic guitar duo Dead Honcho, punk band Disclosure, The Rising, The Fashionable Winos, In Ya Face, Frightened Prisoners of the Kraken and 4 Play.

Other attractions will include a funfair, a karaoke competition tent, adidas football coaching, arts and crafts activities, graffiti wall painting, DJ-ing and more.

Nigel Green, marketing and events officer, said: "This year we have tried to build on the traditional Sounds event, making the day more fun for all. We have also tried to give local people the opportunity to perform and you will see the best of our talent on the day.

"I think it will prove to be a great success and it will give us something to build on in the future."

The second half of a weekend full of entertainment will be the second annual Accrington Mela on Sunday, a multicultural celebration for the whole community.

It will feature five hours of traditional Asian-style live entertainment.

Headlining will be English and Punjabi crossover group The Lick, led by Surinda Ratan, while female Bollywood singer Aasia Suman and folk singer Bashire Lohaar will also be on the bill.

There will also be arts and crafts, a women's tent, exhibitions and circus skills workshops to complete the line-up of family entertainment.

Naushad Surve, chairman of the organising committee, said: "We will be happy if we get 3,000 to 5,000 people there. It's a really good way of getting everyone together."

The Mela starts at 2pm.