PLANS are being finalised for a former steel town’s first ever outdoor music festival.

Consett Festival is being held on April 27 and will feature live music, food, including a hog roast, a real ale bar and activities for all of the family.

It is being staged at Consett Rugby Club ground and is the brainchild of IT technician Brad Wilkinson.

He said: “Things have gone downhill in Consett with the loss of the steelworks, but we are still here and still getting on with our lives. Although the reason the town was created has gone there are still people here who love their town and this is an opportunity to celebrate that and have a party.”

The father-of-one, who is married to Gemma, with another baby due later this year, said he hoped businesses will support the festival by taking out free billboards around the ground.

Mr Wilkinson, 41, of The Promenade, Consett, said: “The idea is that I would try to help people like myself who have got small businesses to give them the opportunity to advertise and promote themselves in front of an audience of local people.

“Lots of people will go online or go to the Metrocentre without realising that there are lots of services that they nearby and that will help the local economy.”

Bands already booked to appear include Boneshakers, The Last Fakers, Ladykillers and The Dust Town Dogs, named after Consett’s infamous red dust which coated the town’s buildings before the steelworks closed in 1980.

Several North-East bands have recorded tracks for a CD called Consett Festival 2013.

The festival, which is being run as a not-for-profit initiative, has its own Facebook page with up-to-date news.

It will from 11am-10pm and tickets cost £7 for adults, £4 for under 18s while children under 13 got free.

To book call Mr Wilkinson on 0750-226-5453 or log on to www.consettfestival.co.uk