AN innovative community celebration is set to light up Redcar a year after the Corus Blast Furnace was mothballed.

The idea was the brainchild of Secret Millionaire David Jamilly, who fell in love with the town when he took part in the Channel 4 series, has been blown away by the response.

The Redcar Fire and Steel Festival - "Keeping the Flame Alive" - will celebrate the towns great history of steelmaking.

The London-based party planning entrepreneur has teamed up with Redcar Amateur Boxing Club and Redcar Development Trust founder Frankie Wales to devise a one day festival, celebrating Teesside's steel-making pride, to be held in Redcar on February 19.

Mr Jamilly said: "The positive response from the community so far has blown me away and we hope as many people will get involved and attend as possible."

The event will include a fire sculpture, a torch lit procession led by motorcycles, drummers, fire performers and a whole range of additional festivities including art exhibitions and circus workshops.

"This is the only place in the world with 150 years of steel history and this needs to be remembered forever," said Frankie Wales. "The Sydney Harbour Bridge today stands as just one example of our vision, talent and endeavour.

"Although our town may have suffered badly from industrial decline, we will never be beaten out and out."

The festival kicks off at 5.30pm from the Redcar Bowl on Saturday, February 19.