AN ARTS festival has secured thousands of pounds of grants to make the event bigger than ever.

Harwich Festival of the Arts has been awarded £23,600 from the Arts Council for this year’s summer event.

There will be the most events in the festival’s history, performed by musicians, actors and dancers.

Highlights include a Danish choir, Yehudi Menuhin School Orchestra, and a ceilidh with folk group Lebedek.

There will also be The Great Big Brass Band Food and Drink Festival, hosted by three brass bands including the Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band at the Redoubt Fort.

Local talent will also be celebrated with a school performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in St. Nicholas' Church, and successful Harwich-born trumpeter Heidi Bennett and folk musician Chloe Merriott.

This year’s festival takes place on June 26 until July 7.