AN EXTRA day of festival fun will entertain Northwich's visitors and residents during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

This year's Northwich Festival, organised by Northwich Rugby Club, will be a five-day event from Thursday, August 27, to Monday, August 31.

Organisers are appealing to the area's businesses and organisations to get involved.

The festival will start with a sportsman's dinner on the Thursday evening, featuring Union and League rugby legend John Bentley.

Friday will include the Cheshire Independent Living Awareness Day and a motorcycle stunt team, followed by Northwich's first professional Muay Thai and K1 Kick Boxing event in the evening.

Saturday's events include the UK's biggest female rugby tournament, an afternoon of music from Amplify Youth Music Project and Northwich X Factor, and an evening of more live music from Vavoom and Beaver.

Colts rugby, a mods and rockers bike and scooter rally and the OMG Music Festival, with headline act Cheeky Monkey, take place on the Sunday.

Bank Holiday Monday is a family fun day with extreme sports, classic car rally, music festival, fairground, climbing wall, model aircraft show, miniature steam train rides and Northwich's Strongest Man competition.

Organiser Steve Farrell said: "The Northwich Festival is a collaborative venture supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and many other international, national and local sponsors.

"The intention is twofold; firstly, the festival raises funds to support community-wide activities in local schools and on weekends at Moss Farm and, secondly, perhaps more importantly, it puts the town of Northwich on the map.

"It provides the opportunity for local businesses, clubs and associations to showcase what they do and how they contribute to the good of the whole Northwich community."

Any businesses or organisations that want to get involved with the festival should visit northwichfestival.co.uk or ring Steve on 07841 379521.