Beatrix Potter theme for latest Garstang festival!

But while events are organised to celebrate the likes of ice cream, scarecrows and walking, they don’t come any bigger than the annual arts and music festival which opened at the weekend and runs for 10 days.

“This year is our 24th and it’s looking like being the best yet,” said festival chairman Austen Lynch.

“The events at the weekend went exceptionally well and the advance sales for the rest of the week look very good. We’ve had some ticket events selling out in advance, which is terrific.

“I don’t know what it is about festivals and Garstang. But we do seem to have a few.

“Maybe it’s down to the great community we have here and the fact that Garstang is so accessible for people from Lancaster, Preston and across the Fylde Coast.

“Whatever the reason, we do enjoy a good festival.

“Over the years we have expanded this event. It was seven days, now it is 10, ending on Bank Holiday Monday, meaning we now get two weekends instead of the one.”

The festival theme this year is Beatrix Potter and local shops and businesses around the town have joined in by decorating their premises in a shop window competition to honour of the Lake District’s favourite children’s author.