THE Blues Train will once again pull into Colne Station to mark the start of the UK's biggest rhythm and blues festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Community Rail Lancashire have come on board with the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, becoming an associate partner of the event.

As part of the deal, a special train will bring music lovers from Preston picking up at stations as it travels through East Lancashire on the afternoon of Friday, August 25, arriving in Colne in time for the start of the three-day event.

A blues artist will be performing live on board the train as its makes its journey to Colne and refreshments will also be available.

Train operators will also be running later trains on the Saturday night of the festival.

Simon Clarke of Community Rail Lancashire said: "It is really good to be able to work with the town council to help them with offering something that is a little different and at the same time offering a network of rail travel options across seven lines. We wish Colne Town Council every success in delivering this highly popular Blues Festival over the August Bank holiday weekend."

Barnfield Construction and and Roaming Roosters have already revealed that they are to be main partners of the festival which this year will be celebrating its 28th year.

Last week, the Burnley Bus Company announced it would be running free shuttle buses to a number of the festival's roadhouse venues and it would run a Vamooz bus from Manchester to Colne with the price reducing depending on the number of passengers.

Councillor Joe Cooney, chairman of the Blues Working Group said "It is brilliant to add to how festival goers get here from other parts of the region and country, something that is again different and complimentary to the recent Vamooz bus offering

"Adding the Community Rail Network to The Burnley Bus Company, Roaming Roosters and Barnfield Construction Ltd as our partners is tremendously supportive and very much appreciated by not only the town council, but I am sure, by local residents who see everyone pulling together to make this event a success."

This year's festival - the first to be run by Colne Town Council - runs from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 and will be held at three main venues and nine official roadhouse venues around the town.

The line-up includes King King, Joanne Shaw Taylor and Grammy-nominated Janiva Magness.

For full details visit www.bluesfestival.co.uk