AHOY there! Thousands of visitors are expected to head to Cleckheaton in time for this weekend's nautical-themed Folk Festival.

Organisers of the 28th festival which gets under way on Friday afternoon were influenced in their theme choice because so many of the event's artists have links to the sea.

As well as sea shanties and street entertainment including a giant pirate and stilt walkers, the festival will boast an award-winning line up of artists named in this year's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - including Martin Carthy and best duo Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker and best group The Young'uns.

The main acts will be performing at the Town Hall and the Masonic Hall throughout the weekend but cafes and chip shops will also be hosting smaller gigs with informal sessions in many of the pubs too.

"We've got the same number of venues as last year but hopefully with a few more crowds. We usually get about 2,000 or so but roads were shut for the Grand Depart bike race last year which stopped a few from coming here on the Sunday," said festival administrator Janice Minich.

However, festival-goers travelling into the town are still being warned to check their routes to try to avoid roadworks and expected disruption at the Chain Bar junction of the M62 on Saturday night or early Sunday morning as all seven approaches to the roundabout will be closed from 7pm on July 4 to 9am on July 5. This includes motorway slip roads and all local roads. There will be no access to the M62 or any other road via the roundabout.

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Undeterred Mrs Minich said: "If people are coming for Saturday night or early Sunday they might need to find an alternative route but apart from that it looks as though we've got a bit of a heatwave forecast so we're keeping our fingers crossed for it."

Advance tickets are selling well but there is still time to book on-line or just turn up for individual concerts and pay at the door - full adult weekend tickets are £75 but there are child and concession prices.

Families can look forward to a host of free entertainment at a fun day on the Sunday in the Savoy space and children as well as the young at heart who come dressed in a nautical manner can join in Saturday's parade which leaves the fire station at 11am to pass through the town centre on the Saturday.

Visit cleckheatonfolkfestival.org for tickets, full line-up details and more information.