BARROW is to stage a £100,000 two-day Banner Festival of the Sea later this year to exploit the town's coastal assets.

The entire dock area between Barrow's Dock Museum and the Association of British Ports pier head, including Devonshire Dock Hall, will be transformed into the main festival site on August 17 and 18.

There will be craft marquees and various ships, which visitors will be welcome to board.

These will include ships used by British Nuclear Fuels, BAE Systems in Barrow and the Royal Navy.

The highly-acclaimed Red Arrows will also make a special appearance on Sunday at about 2.30pm.

Barrow's Model Boat Club is also putting on an exhibition and Barrow artists will be hanging some of their paintings in Barrow Library during the weekend.

Bird lovers can take part in the events being organised at Walney Nature Reserve during the weekend and there will be a large fun fair on the docks in Barrow for the youngsters.

The festival is to cost about £ 100,000 but already the Association of British Ports, BNFL and BAE Systems have agreed to pay for their own displays.

The Countryside Agency has also given a grant for £5,000 to cover the cost of advertising and marketing the event.

Organisers are now seeking sponsorship from local business to help fund the festival, which will be held from 10am until 10pm on Saturday and from 10pm until 6pm on Sunday.