MORE than 30 separate events are planned as part of the first Lancaster District Diversity Festival.

A new community festival created by local people, it aims to celebrate who we are' within the themes of age, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, race and ethnicity.

It will kick-off with a day of performances and activities at the Platform in More-cambe next Saturday, October 2, when highlights will include music from the Dhamak Collective, Baybeat, Ben Farmer and others, Ludus Dance workshops and the launch of a new community radio station on 87.7FM.

Art and craft activities for all ages, film screenings, stalls and displays, an exhibition about migrant workers and food will also be part of the mix.

Later, projects and special events involving theatre, film, photography, radio, poetry, music, dance, debates and food will all be part of the festival which will end in another big get-together at St Martin's College, Lancaster, on October 30.

Local activist Patricia England, who has campaigned for many years to end discrimination against minority groups, says: "The festival will enable us to showcase our daily work and creativity. People say they hope this festival will grow into something like a WOMAD or Mela event in the local parks in future years."

And Harsha Shukla, president of the local Hindu Society, says: "I am proud to be involved in the festival and hope it will become an annual event, bringing people from all backgrounds together to celebrate their culture and contribution to community life."

The festival has been organised by a group of local volunteers and agencies and sponsored by the National Lottery, Lanc-aster University, the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime, Lancaster City Council and St Martin's College.

For more details, visit the website at www.virtual-lancaster.net/diversity or call Sue Garner on 01524-36201.