TWO soap stars will light up this year's Horwich Carnival — which organisers promise will be better than ever this year.

The annual event, which will be held this year at Old Station Park on Saturday and Sunday, will feature special guest appearances from Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson and Hollyoaks' Jamie Lomas.

Bury star Gemma will be signing autographs for fans with the carnival's programme on Saturday from 3pm, with Jamie set to follow on Sunday from 4pm.

Former Hollyoaks star Gemma will also be crowning this year's carnival royalty, which this year includes 13-year-old Rhian Johnson as carnival queen, nine-year-old Kiara Chapman as carnival princess and three-year-old Tiana Cracknell as the carnival's petal princess.

The main carnival procession will take place on Sunday. The main parade will start in Ramsbottom Road at noon, before moving on to Church Street, Lee Lane and then turn looping back around on Chorley New Road.

There have already been a number of entries for the parade, but people are still being invited.

The carnival will again raise funds for good causes, including Horwich Visiting Service, which provides a befriending services for adults in the town, armed forces charity SSAFA, and Horwich Widows Club, which supports people who have lost their partner.

Other attractions during the weekend will include a bonnie baby competition, a dog show, charity stalls, a fun fair, fancy dress and refreshments.

Carnival organiser Diane Woodruff said: "We have worked hard to make it bigger and better every year, and we hope it will be again this year.

"We have had some good feedback about the celebrities appearing this year and we are expecting some big crowds for them in particular."

For the parade, between 11am and 2pm on Sunday, the following roads will be closed:

Chorley Old Road between Stocks Park Drive & Church Street, Church Street between Chorley Old Road and Lee Lane, Lee Lane for its entire length, Chorley New Road (southeast bound) between Scholes Bank and Ramsbottom Road, Ramsbottom Road for its entire length, Victoria Road between Ramsbottom Road and Church Street.

For more information, call 07719 161 076.