A FESTIVAL of music, dance and arts is celebrating its 10th birthday this weekend with a line-up of major artists.

To help highlight the family-friendly Galtres Parklands Festival which returns to Duncombe Park, Helmsley, today and runs until Sunday, promotional staff dressed up as the Keystone Kops, from Mack Sennett’s original comedy, during their visit to York.

Sam Brewen, Mikey Donnelly, Max and Robyn Taylor-McEwan dressed up in the over-sized uniforms to promote the event - the Kops will be involved in a new seaside theme at the festival.

Mr Brewen said: “For the past nine weeks we have been visiting locations across Yorkshire promoting the festival and spreading merriment."

Robyn said: “Despite the fact many children haven’t seen the comedy, it is fun for them to get their picture taken with us”.

James Peart, part of the team of organisers, said: “We are going to have an island with a beach and charities running activities. The Keystone promotion appeals to people in Yorkshire and makes the event exciting for children."

Inspiration for the theme came from the many customers from coastal regions.

The festival features more than 100 acts, including Levellers and Bellowhead today, Tricky and Morcheeba on Saturday and The Human League and Public Service Broadcasting on the last day, as well as comedy, dance, theatre and seaside-themed family entertainment.

Other musical acts include York buskers Blackbeard's Tea Party; North Eastern folk troubadour Martin Stephenson; The Voice's Beth McCarthy; singer-songwriter Chris Helmel Foy Vance; Sadie Jammett; The Lumberjack Heartbreak Trucking Company; Gilmore & Roberts Band; Blue Rose Code Trio; The Jim Jones Revue; John Otway and Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six.