A new Bradford Festival will bring a vibrant, colourful and multicultural programme of the best international, British and local theatre, art, music and dance into the heart of the city this weekend.

The packed programme of events, which is expected to attract thousands of people, starts in City Park today and runs through the weekend, ending with an International Mela on Sunday.

The line-up comes after last June’s Mela was cancelled at an estimated cost of £200,000 after the venue of Peel Park, Undercliffe, became waterlogged by torrential rain.

Entertainment will be provided on stages in the city centre park, with hundreds of events planned over the weekend for people of all ages.