YOUNG people will get a touch of culture when a major arts festival opens in Bolton this weekend.

The first Bolton Youth Arts Festival will feature everything from photography, a battle of bands competition and learning to be a DJ, through to exhibitions and displays.

The nine-day festival is aimed at giving people aged three to 25 the chance to take part in arts activities for free.

The festival, which opens tomorrow at The Phoenix Theatre, Bark Street, will have a marquee in Bolton town centre with a taster of the different activities on offer. It will conclude on August Bank Holiday Monday when a colourful Chinese dragon parade will take place in Le Mans Crescent in the town centre.

Staff at The Phoenix Theatre have spent the last six months organising the festival and now they want as many young people as possible to take part in the different activities. Artistic director Wendy Ellis said: "We wanted to give young people the chance to experience performing arts for free."