THE countdown has begun for the start of the fifth Worcester Festival.

Ducks, peacocks and tap-dancing turkeys are among the acts lined up for the 362-event spectacular.

The festival will run from Saturday, August 11, to Monday, August 27, in 50 separate venues across the city. The line-up includes 238 free events and 110 events for children.

The opening day will see 52 events taking place, with an array of weird and wonderful street theatre performances, dance displays and live music at venues throughout the city centre.

St Richard's Hospice will be organising the first duck race on the river Severn, and the Territorial Army's 214 Battery gun salute will blast the official opening signal to get the festival under way.

The opening night welcomes Julian Lloyd Webber back to the city for a concert at Huntington Hall and Pam Ayres for a sell-out show at the Swan Theatre.

Festival Director Chris Jaeger said: "I'm so proud to see how the Worcester Festival is growing in popularity and size each year.

"It really seems as if the people of Worcester have taken it firmly to their hearts.

"This is a truly inclusive festival to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of financial status."

Highlights of this year's festival include the flower festival at Worcester Cathedral, CAMRA's beer, cider and perry festival on Pitchcroft, and Melting Pot's outdoor production of A Winter's Tale in the Greyfriars garden.

New events planned for this year include an Italian market in the High Street, a programme of workshops on everything from drawing for beginners to Indian head massage and fiction writing. There is also the chance to dress up Rat Pack-style, drink cocktails and perform Frank Sinatra classics at the Plough pub in Deansway.

The festival culminates on Bank Holiday Monday with Worcester's biggest free fireworks display at 10pm, which last year saw a record-breaking 10,000 people lining Worcester's bridge to watch.

For a free copy of the festival programme, ring the box office at Huntingdon Hall on 01905 611427 or pick one up from the Swan Theatre, Huntingdon Hall or the Tourism Information Centre.