A NUMBER one soul singer will perform at a summer festival that promises to be much more than its title.

Diane Shaw, whose album ‘Love, Life & Strings’ was 2015’s best selling debut UK Soul album and spent two weeks at the top of the UK soul charts, will sing at the Mid Cheshire Charity Scooter Rally and Beer Festival.

This year's event, organised by The Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal, takes place at Blakemere Village on Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16.

Tim Henshall, from the organising committee, said: "We're hoping Diane will attract a lot more local people because we want to make it a music festival, not just a scooter rally.

"Our mission statement this year is that it's a summer celebration of beer, scooters and music in the heart of the Cheshire countryside."

The festival, now in its fourth year, will open on the Friday evening with live music from The Start Band, an energetic indie, mod and post-punk bank.

On Saturday afternoon acts from Amplify Youth Music Project will take to the stage before the evening session, featuring The Lazzy Band, Johnny Boy Northern Soul and headliner The Diane Shaw Band.

A beer festival will run throughout the event and there will be a classic and custom scooter show, parts fair, the Michelin Challenge Cup Tug o' War, raffle, Roll a Dice tables, children's activities and food.

Tim said: "It's a great atmosphere.

"There's such a passion about the scooters, people spend thousands of pounds customising the paintwork and it's of interest to other people just as a spectacle – they're great to look at, you don't have to be into them – and it's all '60s nostalgia.

"This event is a real feather in the cap of Vale Royal Rotary Club."

Last year's event raised £16,000, which was split between The Joshua Tree, the Guides, Northwich and District Youth Club, the Samaritans and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Camping and caravanning is available for the weekend.

Advanced weekend tickets are £15, or £20 on the gate.

Tickets for one day and one night of camping are £12 on the gate.

Afternoon passes are £3 on the gate.

For tickets and more information visit mid-cheshire-charity-scooter-rally.co.uk.

Tickets are also available at Jack Gee Cycles, in Witton Street.