ORGANISERS have agreed dates for a Crewe-based arts festival when lockdown restrictions have been lifted.

The two-day event is set to take place in the town centre on Saturday and Sunday August 21/22, two months after it is hoped all legal limits on social contact are lifted under the government's roadmap.

The event, which is being themed as a "celebration of fun, colour, light, shine and magic", will be a replacement for the The TrAction festival which attracted large crowds in previous years to watch shows and installations based around the themes of transport, science and technology.

TrAction was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but Crewe town councillors voted in January to go ahead with a scaled-down event this summer that would avoid large numbers congregating.

The authority has been working with performing arts company SpareParts who will deliver the event over a number of days with restrictions on those attending and with strict Covid-secure measures in place.

Town Council Marketing and Events Officer Simona Garnero told councillors: "It won't be a TrAction-like event but it will be a summer event based around the theme of magic, colour and light.

"An agreement has been signed with SpareParts and they are happy to go with that."

The arts company, which is managed by the Fleetwood Festival of Transport, will drop parade and walkabout acts along with drop-in art workshops.

Art installations and displays have been suggested to form a focus for people to visit at at time when there is real hope that life will return to the town centre.

Lyceum Square is the focus for creative arts work funded by government regeneration cash - the Ly2 Project - while the revamped Market Hall has a launch event planned on June 21.

Lumen, another high profile town council-run event which fell by the wayside last year, has had a November 26 date set for its launch with the lights show running through until December 12, but the council will await government guidelines before starting detailed planning.