A MUSIC festival in aid of Claire House's '40 for 40' appeal will be held in Hoylake later this month.

Now in its second year Hoylake Live: Summerfest - an afternoon of live music, food and festival fun - takes place on Saturday July 27 from midday.

It will feature more than 80 live acts performing on seven stages across six venues, including – for the first time - a large outdoor stage.

Organiser and promoter Darron Wright created the festival last year in tribute to late father Ronnie - a local stalwart and patron of Hoylake and who had a deep love of the community.

It raise funds for the RNLI and the Hoylake Christmas Lights appeal.

The event was also heavily backed by co-organiser Emma Hartley who, as well as heading up the social media campaign, was a reliable and constant support to Darron.

Darron said the festival was such a resounding success that all participants were eager for the event to continue in 2019 and to 'raise the bar' with their ambitions.

Looking forward to this year's event, he added: "Building on the success of last year’s event, this year's Hoylake Live: Summerfest will be much bigger and better.

"We will also have over 50 stalls including food vendors, arts and crafts, fashion and face-painting as well as a huge children's play area consisting of nerf gun arena, zorb balls and a 130ft assault course, we are really going for the classic festival feel.

"We are all geared up for what promises to be a fantastic day in support of such a worthy cause.

"We are delighted to have sponsorship this year and our main event and outdoor stage sponsors are the excellent Jackson Lees and we also have some great sponsorship from brilliant local businesses Whitt's End Gin, PMB Engineering, and The Black Toad micropub. ”

Darron said he was honoured that Hoylake Live: Summerfest 2019 will raise funds for Claire House Children’s Hospice and the ‘40 for 40’ campaign.

The appeal aims to raise £40,000 to help the organisation in its vital work.

It was launched earlier this year to celebrate what would have been the hospice inspiration's 40th birthday.

Claire Cain passed away in 1989, 19 days before her 10th birthday, after a brave battle with cancer.

Her courage inspired parents Chris and Bobby to begin a fundraising appeal that culminated in the opening of the Clatterbridge-based hospice in April 1999.

Cora Shafto, community fundraiser at Claire House said: "We are so thrilled that Hoylake Live: Summerfest has chosen to not only support Claire House but the Cain family's 40 for 40 campaign.

"This will be such an amazing day to get everyone excited for summer with loads of live music.

"We will be there on July 27, along with some Claire House volunteers, to enjoy all the bands, singers and stall holders."

The event is sponsored by businesses, including leading North West solicitors Jackson Lees Group.

Brian Cullen, chief executive of main sponsors Jackson Lees, said: "We are delighted to support Hoylake Live.

"It's fantastic to see people coming together in the heart of our community to celebrate music and to raise money for Claire House.

"It's such a wonderful cause and already one of the Jackson Lees Foundation's chosen charities.

"Making a positive difference to our community is so important to us and we are proud to be a part of Hoylake".

Ralf Woerdenweber Channel 4's Gogglebox cast member will be there on the day to meet fans and will also be hosting a raffle as part of the proceedings, to be held three weeks after Hoylake Live: Summerfest on August 17 at Whitt's End.

He said: "I'm very happy to support this, the second year, of Hoylake Live; this year not with my band but more as an ambassador for a great cause.

"It makes me proud to be part of such a great event. Claire House is a fantastic charity that does incredible work for sick children and their families.

"I hope that many people will come to this year’s Hoylake Live and that together we can raise funds that will help many people now and in the future.

"See you all soon and let us make this day unforgettable!"