A national street music festival is coming to Shipley for the first time.

The 23rd national street music festival will see 200 singers from 20 community choirs across the UK come to perform in the town's streets and community venues.

The festival, which will be held between May 20 and 22, will centre on the theme of world harmony and has been organised by community choir Bradford Voices.

It last came to the area in 1999 when it was held in Bradford city centre.

Choir member Keith Lander said: "We put ourselves forward to organise it this year because many of us actually live in the Shipley area and for Saltaire in particular, we thought where better a place to hold an event about world harmony than in a world heritage site?"

The singers will perform in various venues around Shipley and Saltaire and at concerts and music workshops and the festival will culminate in a musical picnic in Roberts Park in Saltaire.

On Saturday, May 21 all 200 singers will gather together in Shipley town centre for a mass sing, including a special world harmony song which is being composed for the event.

Community organisations and businesses are now being asked to sponsor the festival and local hotels and guesthouses are being asked to provide discounted prices for the singers.

A bid is also being put together to Bradford Council's Shipley Area Committee to meet the expenses of the festival.

Mr Lander added: "We are also looking for volunteers who can offer free or discounted bed and breakfast for visiting singers.

"And any school, community or youth group is invited to run any event or activity on the theme of world harmony in the week leading up the festival weekend."

The festival is organised each year by one of a network of community choirs whose roots began by singing songs in the streets.

Last year it was held in Leeds and in previous years it has been hosted in Nottingham and Manchester.

The styles of singing are very varied and include folk, eastern European and Gospel music.

Anyone who can help or wants to participate in the event should contact Mr Lander on (07950) 471456 (day) or (01274) 590345 (evening) or e-mail keith@beckvale.co.uk.

A website is soon to be set up to cover the event at www.streetchoir.org.uk