As restoration work on Royal Terrace Gardens nears completion Torbay Council is working with local partners on a community festival to celebrate the successful project.

The festival will take place along Princess Gardens and the Promenade, opposite Royal Terrace, on Saturday 2 October. There will be a huge array of activities on offer including local bands, GeoPark inspired workshops and lots of fun and entertainment for the youngsters. The festival will then culminate in an amazing, not to be missed, digital techni-coloured light show, projected against the rock face.

Now local residents are being encouraged to help contribute to the festival by sharing their memories, stories or perhaps photographs about the gardens in the past so they can be put on display as part of the event.

Submissions will also be judged with the winner will be invited to join the Mayor of Torbay Nick Bye to officially open the gardens and their name will also appear on the plaque commemorating the day.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Cllr Chris Lewis said: "The restoration project has been a huge success and whilst the gardens will be open for the public over coming weeks we wanted to arrange something special to really mark the occasion and encourage local residents and businesses to take pride in the them.

"As we celebrate the new gardens and look to the future we thought it would also be nice to remind ourselves of the important role they have played in the community. We really want to hear from people who have visited or lived in the Bay for many years or perhaps some of our younger residents have stories from their older relatives.

"I look forward to welcoming everyone to the festival in October."

Anyone wishing to submit their stories or photographs should send them, with contact details, to Mischa Eligoloff, Partnership Development Officer at Torbay Council, Tor Hill House, Torquay, TQ2 5QW or telephone him on 01803 208824. All photographs and other items of value, will be returned after the festival.