THE UK’s biggest urban youth festival, HUB, is moving to a new waterfront location.

The move to Wellington Dock is designed to make the event car-free to mark Liverpool’s Year of Environment.

Up to 20,000 people are expected for the two-day festival on May 23 and 24.

A free bus service will operate from the city centre and festival goers are being urged to use public transport. No car parking facilities will be provided. HUB, now in its seventh year, combines urban art, music and extreme sports including skateboarding, BMX, in-line skating, breakdancing and body popping.

Liverpool city council leader, Cllr Warren Bradley, said: “HUB has been a huge success and one of its great virtues is that every year it offers something new.

“The Wellington Dock site had huge improvements made to it for the Tall Ships and provides both a great backdrop for HUB and a huge boost to our Year of Environment celebrations.”'

An invitation is now open to the best musicians from indie to funk, rock to soul, hip-hop to metal to send in a demo which could see them starring on the festival’s live music stage.

Bands have until March 10 to apply, and application forms can be downloaded from www.hubfestival.co.uk