EXTRA bus services are being laid on to get thousands of music fans to a ska and mod festival this weekend.

About 2,000 fans are expected at the Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street on Sunday (May 24) for the Riverside Live festival, headlined by 70s and 80s stars From The Jam, The Lambrettas and The Selector.

Carl Marshall, from organisers Stanley Events, said: "With the event on a Bank Holiday weekend, there is sure to be congestion problems regarding getting in and out of the area but our friends at Go North East are laying on buses to cope.

"This will not only make it easier for residents to do what they want to do on the Sunday but also festival goers will not have to worry about getting to Newcastle or Durham late on a Sunday night."

Go North East says the Coast & Country 78/78A routes will stop at Riverside Park with direct buses from Chester-le-Street, Sunderland, Stanley and Consett.

The Angel 21 services will travel every 15 minutes from Durham and Newcastle to Chester-le-Street, while a direct bus will leave Riverside Park at 10.54pm on Sunday heading to Newcastle via Birtley and Gateshead.

Full details are available at www.simplygo.com/riversidelive

The gig starts at noon with headline act From The Jam, featuring former Jam bassist Bruce Foxton, expected on stage at about 9pm.

Fans at Chester-le-Street can expect to hear classic Jam hits such as' Down In The Tube Station At Midnight', 'Going Underground', 'Town Called Malice' and 'The Modern World' as well as some live favourites and songs from Bruce’s solo career.

Tickets, priced £35, are still available from www.riversidelive.org

During the event there will be collections for three charities: Help for Heroes, Chester-le-Street Mind and St Cuthbert's Hospice. These charities will also be given a donation from the event organisers.