SIDCUP is planning a fun- packed day to declare its town centre well and truly open for business again.

After the many recent disruptions to town life caused by the construction of a giant supermarket, traders and residents have declared May 24 as the day Sidcup Bounces Back!

The Town Centre Partnership and the Sidcup High Street Promotion Group are organising a festival of events.

They include a festival parade featuring lots of local organisations, which will make its way along the High Street from Sidcup Hill at noon, to the new Safeway car park.

It will include floats, vintage cars, majorettes, stilt walkers, dancers and music.

Throughout the day from 11am until 3pm there will be lots of other attractions, including Punch and Judy, a rock band, steel band and the orchestra from the Bexley Centre for Music and Dance.

Students from the Doreen Bird College will perform dance routines, Rose Bruford College students will provide animations and there will be singers, puppets and an art exhibition.

High street shops will also be taking part with special offers and free gifts and balloons. Many have also contributed prizes to raffles to be held on the day.

Traders have raised the money for the event, helped by donations from Safeway and the HSBC bank.

Local groups, residents and schools can still add to the fun by offering their own talents.

In particular demand are marching bands, face painting, clowns, Edinburgh Festival-style street entertainment, live music of every kind, dancing school displays, charity/antique/bric-a-brac stalls and a vintage bus or coach.

Local groups can also take part in the parade. Money raised on the day will go to local charities.

If you would like to help Sidcup Bounces Back, call Mike Lowe on 020 8309 7808 on weekdays, 9am to 5pm.

April 29, 2003 10:30