ORGANISERS of the Ulverston Lantern Festival have encouraged people to join the procession as excitement builds ahead of next month's spectacle.

The festival will finish on a high note with an Olympic-style closing ceremony in Ford Park involving dozens of local people who have learned circus skills and dance moves to create ‘light graffiti’ to entertain thousands of people flocking to the town for the event.

The theme is ‘Out of the Toybox’ and lantern kits comprising willow withies, tissue paper, glue, wire, candle and masking tape are now on sale for £5 each at The Bookshack in the Market Hall, Laurel & Hardy Museum, Coronation Hall, Boogle & Bumps, Costa Coffee and Appleseeds.

Lantern committee vice-chairman Chris Nelson said: "The 2015 theme gives a huge amount of scope and we are expecting to see everything from teddy bears, toy soldiers, cars and planes, to castles, dolls and dolls’ houses, dinosaurs and Star Wars.

"There’s no limit to what can be created for the Lantern procession and we are expecting a massive turnout again with lots of local schools involved."

Lantern-making sessions are set to take place at the Ulverston Parish Rooms between September 4 and 11; 5.30pm-8.30pm weekdays and noon to 6pm Saturday and Sunday (September 5 and 6).

There will also be workshops at the Swarthmoor Reading Rooms from September 4 to 6.

Showpiece lanterns already under way include a giant train, a giant rocking horse, a huge jack in a box and other toy-themed creations.

The breath-taking finale to the Lantern Festival, which takes place on September 12, has been designed and created in Ulverston and will be performed by a troupe of dancers recruited by artists Matrix Circus.

The group has secured grant funding from Arts Council England to put on the amazing show with painted dancers, fire fans and high-tech LED hoops created by Ulverston-based artist Ben Kermode.

Jennifer Street, of Matrix Circus, is masterminding the finale and said: "I'm so chuffed the Arts Council has given us their backing to create a show by the community for the community to create a magical night for Ulverston.

"Our aim is to give people within South Lakeland a platform to engage in the circus arts, and build self-confidence and a sense of empowerment through performance.”

The show will involve people learning to use flaming fans, hula hoops and poi (a fire dance performing art from New Zealand) to create a light show on a stage erected for the night at Ford Park.

Alternative drumming act The Deatbeats will join in and the traditional firework display will also light up the night for crowds.

Ulverston-based artist Ellie Chaney is helping people to design and make their own costumes and make-up artist Kerry Turner will assist in creating the characters.

Ulverston Lantern Festival committee treasurer Gavin Knott added: "We decided to back the concept so we can have an all-singing, all-dancing festival finale we'll all remember.

"It also feels right to do something that supports artists in Ulverston, gives people new skills and also encourages a new LED enterprise, since LEDs are at the heart of so many of the town’s technology-leading companies."