CAMPAIGNERS fighting to bring back Belle Vue are staging an event inspired by the much-loved amusement park.

A festival named the Belle Vue Weekender will run for two days from May 23 next year, as part of Gorton 100 - a festival which celebrates the centenary of Gorton becoming part of Manchester.

Organisers are booking Gorton Park, Sunnybrow Park, Debdale Park and Belle Vue Sports Centre for the event.

It will feature the fairgrounds, circus shows, wrestling and speedway that made Belle Vue a family favourite until its closure in the early 80s.

Communities for Stability, who have come up with the idea, hope the event will boost their campaign to create a `linear park' which would build on the legacy of Belle Vue - and offer a regeneration alternative to east Manchester's failed casino bid.

Gorton 100 aims to celebrate the area's rich history and get locals involved in shaping its future.

Powerhouse

The area has been settled since medieval times and became an industrial powerhouse in the Victorian era.

Notable ex-residents include Samuel Gorton, who founded a religious sect called the Gortonites in 17th century America, and the late actor John Thaw, of Inspector Morse fame.

Damian Carr, chairman of Communities for Stability, said: "Many local people will tell you that next year marks the 100th anniversary of Manchester joining up with Gorton - not the other way round.

"We want to harness that pride and community spirit to help attract investment to the area. We'd like to get young people talking to the old, and get some positive attention for Gorton, which people here feel has been forgotten.

"It's likely that Gorton 100 will feature a programme of events throughout next year, the Belle Vue Weekender being the first we've settled on."

The weekender is likely to feature two fairs, street performers, all-star football and wrestling, motorcycle displays, a bike rally that could link in with Belle Vue Aces, firework displays, a local band showcase, magicians, hot-dogs, candy-floss, and children's competitions. Social justice charity the Scarman Trust is helping bring together different community groups for the Gorton 100, and a launch event is likely to be held in January.

Manchester unexpectedly won the bid to build a supercasino last year, a scheme which would have brought £265m investment and 3,000 jobs to east Manchester, but the Government changed its mind.

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