Accrington Academy will host the inaugural Access All Areas arts festival next week to celebrate aspiration, diversity and personal growth in the community.

The innovative festival will offer a range of visual, experience and performance-based art along with a detective trail through Accrington using iPads as guides.

It follows on from the trailblazer ADEPT event in February where Academy students were involved in large-scale video projects across the town hall.

Academy principal Andy O'Brien said he can't wait for the festival to begin.

He said: “We thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for our students to create their own festival.

“Working closely with our creative consultant Jez Dolan, we recruited a selection of students to form a festival committee who have completely taken ownership of the project and have really done us proud.”

Students will work alongside company Curious Minds to deliver the festival which will also include a performance of Shakespeare ‘s The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III.

Emma Starkey, assistant principal said pupils have risen to the challenge.

She said: “The students’ ambition has been to prove to the people in the area that the youth of Accrington are of value and a positive force in the community.

“It has been an invaluable learning experience for them to work alongside the professionals. The pupils have certainly risen to the challenge and have demonstrated outstanding commitment.”

The festival will run from Tuesday, June 25 to Saturday, June 29 and the full programme of events is available from www.aaafestival.co.uk