Businesses on one of the main routes into Bradford are being urged to show off their wares as part of Bradford International Festival.

This year, for the first time, the event will feature a community festival on the Leeds Roads corridor. The events are sponsored by Regen 2000, the organisation charged with transforming the Leeds Road, Barkerend and Bradford Moor areas.

"Local businesses are being urged to be involved as much as possible, said Caroline Laurie, communications officer for Regen 2000.

"We're encouraging all sectors of the community to come together. People from Business Link and Asian Trades Link will be going out this week to talk to businesses about it."

People running shops, restaurants and other firms along Leeds Road will be urged to create a 'hustle and bustle' feel along what is one of the city's busiest roads by displaying their goods and promoting what they do.

It is hoped their efforts will help draw the attention of visitors from outside of the district who drive along the route.

Regen 2000 is also sponsoring a marquee at this year's Mela and one of the main elements of that will be a photo project run by Primary Colours, of Huddersfield.

People are being urged to take photographs along to the marquee at Peel Park on Saturday, June 21, to form an interactive display, according to Alicia Campbell, community and education development manager for Bradford International Festival.

"We want people to come along with pictures of their families, of their homes - wherever they consider home to be," she said. "Their pictures will be scanned, they'll be interviewed and all of that will be projected onto the exhibition in the marquee."

The Leeds Road Community Festival will take feature music and street theatre during the weekend of June 14 and 15. Artists appearing, include Mike Hancock, Comic Creature Creations and The Risk Assessors.

More details about the events can be obtained by contacting the festival hotline on (01274) 722272 or via www.bethere2003.com

Schools in the Regen 2000 area are also getting involved in the Kite Festival, with traditional kite maker Nazir Din holding workshops for youngsters.

The Kite Festival will take place at Myra Shay playing fields, off Barkerend Road, between 11am and 5pm on Sunday.