SHOPKEEPERS are expecting tills to sing when a free music festival hits town.

Pubs, restaurants, shops and cafes are banking on Bank Holiday Monday's Middlesbrough Music Live Festival being one of their best trading days of the year.

David Ward, manager of the Cleveland Centre, said the festival - expected to attract more than 30,000 people to the town centre - was one of the busiest days for local businesses.

"Figures from last year show that there were about 12,000 more visitors to the Cleveland Centre than we would normally expect on a Bank Holiday," he said.

"It's a great event for bringing people into the town. All the shops will be open this year, and with it being a music-related event, I'd expect businesses like HMV to do some brilliant trade.

"Ironically, if it's raining then we do even better because everyone runs inside for cover, although I daresay the organisers are keen that doesn't happen."

The free festival, which will featurw chart stars Electric Six and Fame Academy's Alistair Griffin playing in the town centre, is organised and funded by Middlesbrough Council. And promoter Graham Ramsay, whose company Ten Feet Tall books the acts, is convinced the festival more than pays for itself in terms of local business revenue.

About 70 bands will play to the crowds from stages erected across the town centre. There will be buskers and street theatre too.

* There will be coverage of the festival in The Northern Echo, on Tuesday.

Published: 29/05/2004