THE Great Yorkshire Fringe is to return to York city centre for a fourth year next July.

The event will run from Thursday, July 19, until Sunday, July 29 and organisers have invited professional companies, solo acts and local community groups who would like to perform to get in touch.

Businesses which would like to take up one of the many street food concessions and stalls around the site are also being urged to come forward.

Festival founder and York resident, Martin Witts, said: “We are looking for the weird and the wonderful, everything from comedians to variety acts, singers, groups, magic acts, kids shows and all-round family entertainment.

“The Great Yorkshire Fringe is a curated festival to ensure the highest standards of entertainment.”

He said the Fringe had ‘wowed’ York with three years of festivals centred on Parliament Street.

“It has grown each year and its mix of music, comedy, variety and family entertainment, street food and local craft beers in a village green setting, has taken over even more locations in the heart of the city,” he said.

“Last year saw the 1,500-seat Barbican Theatre used for the first time and featured sell-out shows by comedian Henning Wehn and American jazz singer Curtis Stigers playing the city for the first time alongside Ronnie Scott’s Big Band.”

He added that acts interested in taking part in the 2018 festival should go to www.greatyorkshirefringe.com for full details on how to apply, with submissions closing on March 31.