A MERSEYSIDE town is set to become a hotbed of cultural activity as it hosts a series of artistic premieres.

The Festival Of Firsts begins today with hundreds of artists, musicians and poets descending on Hoylake.

The arts festival will include premiere performances of plays, poems and musical works.

The event is also intended to be a “family- friendly” event, with workshops and opportunities for youngsters to in involved.

Festival Of Firsts spokesman Steve Hall said hundreds of prominent local acts from every genre will be performing in venues throughout the town. The event was kickstarted when poet and former Scaffold member John Gorman suggested using Hoylake’s mile-long promenade to stage a lively summer arts festival. Mr Gorman’s play Lena is one of those due to be premiered.

The promenade will host the art exhibition, and the festival team also plan to create “Gallery Hoylake” which will see shops and businesses displaying works of art.

The festival, which aims to raise money to open more beds at Claire House Children’s Hospice, in Clatterbridge, will move to Oxton next weekend, starting July 15.

For more details, see www.festivaloffirsts.co.uk