More than 140,000 people are expected to descend on Bradford's Peel Park this weekend for the UK's biggest and most successful Mela.

Organisers hope the two-day celebration of art, culture and community, now in its 17th year, will draw in record crowds.

The world famous Mela, one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, promises a mixture of music, arts and crafts to recreate the sights, sounds, smells and tastes from around the world.

An action-packed programme for all the family has been lined up with music playing a key part.

Headline acts will include The Mighty Zulu Nation, from Durban, South Africa, who have performed in front of Nelson Mandela and The Queen, Pakistan's latest 'pop sensation' Faakhir and Banco de Guia, best known by Glastonbury Festival followers.

A giant marquee will house Bradford Vision Village putting on activities run by community groups where visitors will be invited to stand in a giant bubble, try out sun printing, race a hovercraft or have a go at a penalty shootout.

The city's first public computer 'hot spot' will also be in the marquee where meal visitors can send and receive messages between Bradford and Pakistan.

The internet link-up from Peel Park via Feversham College to a specialist cybernet cafe in Rawalpindi in the Punjab is being set up by The City Learning Centre - which is the high-tech arm of Carlton Bolling College.

Meanwhile book fans will get the chance to select, review and exchange the latest titles in a 'Big Top' and budding poets and writers will be encouraged to make the most of the audience and share their own imaginative work with others.

Drumming, dancing and drawing are just some of the workshops organised on the jam-packed days. For anyone with energy left, there is going to be a sports arena kicking off competitions for families and children.

The Festival market will be selling exotic and authentic food, clothes, shoes, crafts, gifts, music CDs, plants and jewellery from around the world.

Last but not least, there will be a funfair.

Sheena Wrigley, head of theatre, arts and festivals at Bradford Council, said a predicted mini-heatwave forecast a sunny outlook for this year's mela.

"Artists began to arrive yesterday, the stages are in place and we're all very, very excited. It's going to be a great place for people to come and chill out and surprise themselves."

Police are warning of "inevitable" traffic congestion in Bolton Road and Otley Road on both days.