Gloucester city centre is set to be transported back in time this month, as the Classic and Retro Festival returns for its fifth year.

The event was first held in 2015 after being founded by the now Mayor of the city, Colin Organ.

He said: “It was designed to increase tourism, footfall and maximise longevity of visitor time spent in the city to support its businesses, charities and its residents and is part of the overall cultural strategy, in helping to raise its historic and cultural profile.”

The festival sees hundreds of classic twentieth century vehicles converge upon the city, which is split into for different time zones.

Westgate Street will be the home of the first half of the century, 1900-1949. North and East will be the 50s and 60s respectively and Southgate will be the 1970s to the modern day.

“They are being arranged to reflect our recent living history,” continued Colin, “with each Gate Street representing a different era of time and each having nostalgic theme through music, fashion, song, dance and food.

“The event will also see the original cast members of the famous sitcom ‘Allo Allo’ joining in this unique festival adding to the nostalgia.”

Kings Square will be turned into an arena bringing together all the different eras featuring singing, dancing and other live entertainment, including a fashion competition with the best dressed in with the chance of winning prizes.

The Soldiers of Gloucester Museum will play host to a military exhibition featuring a full-size military Tank and supporting vehicles of the time, to compliment a specially built WW1 set featuring in Westgate Street.

Visitors from the Midlands will even have the chance to travel down on ‘The Gloucester Retro Express’ – “a beautifully preserved steam locomotive called ‘Clun Castle’, which used to be seen regularly in Gloucester in the 60s and 70s and is returning home for this special day,” said Colin.

The train will start from Solihull, picking up at Dorridge, Warwick Parkway and Banbury before heading through Oxford, Wiltshire and into the Cotswolds on a picturesque tour towards Gloucester.

The day is set to be a packed one, and after the success of previous festivals Colin is hoping the affect on the city will be a positive, long lasting one.

He added: “With this event we attract followers from all over the country who hopefully will love our city and what it has to offer and come for repeat visits which naturally helps our economy, employment, education and regeneration into the future.

“We also hope to provide some happy nostalgic memories for everyone of all ages, particularly those suffering with memory loss or dementia.”

The Gloucester Classic and Retro Festival takes place on Saturday 24th August.

For more information contact Councillor Colin Organ on colin.organ.glos@gmail.com or colin.organ@gloucester.gov.uk or 07767350003.