COLEFORD Music Festival is expanding this year to include an Arts Trail planned by leading Forest of Dean artist John Belcher.

It will be held in and around the town centre during the week running up to and including the Bank Holiday weekend of May 26-28.

The trail will begin at the Coleford Library where you will be able to pick up a map and plot your course visiting participating shops and premises who will act as individual art galleries.

Each one will be displaying work from a different artist living locally and visitors will be able to view and purchase pieces during the exhibition.

Also appearing at the festival on Sunday and Monday will be wood carver John Wakefield.

John will be working with power tools such as the chainsaw and angle grinder as well as the more traditional gouge and mallet and he will be sculpting a special piece in the town centre over the two days which will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on Monday evening.

•For the second year running the streets of the town will be transformed into a celebration of World Music and Arts.

Thousands of people enjoyed the free multi-cultural event last year. Those who attended will not have forgotten the sight of a Chinese Lion dancing in the street, the sound of the steel bands, the beat of the African drums, the rhythm of the belly dancers and the colourful French market.

The ethos of this Community festival remains to also give local talent a platform to perform on and to promote themselves as well as bringing visitors into the area to help regenerate the town centre.

Any performers or artists wishing to participate should contact the Festival Office, Tourist Information Centre, High Street, Coleford.