THIS year's Prescot Festival of Music and Arts will offer a series of firsts, with new additions to a programme that also includes old favourites.

The new Prescot Town Hall, formerly The Fusilier pub and now transformed inside and out, will be a festival venue for the first time, with an appearance by jazz quartet The Chilled Lemons.

A spokesperson for the event, which takes place in June, said: "Classic films have long been part of the 10-day festival, but this year, the experience will include supper.

"Fish and chips will be served during a screening of Brassed Off, the hit 1996 comedy-drama starring Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite."

The Proms-style finale will include, for the first time, South Liverpool Orchestra and a performance of a new orchestral piece 'Cortege' by festival director Dr Robert Howard.

There will also be performances by Foden's Band, Bentley Operatic Society and Philharmonic cinema organist Dave Nicholas, Karl Jenkins' choral work The Armed Man and a schools' poetry showcase.

The festival runs from Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 28.

Tickets are available via prescotfestival.co.uk, Ticketweb on 08444 771 000 or from Poco Coffee, 30 Eccleston Street, Prescot.