COLOURFUL banners advertising this year's Plymouth Summer Festival have been hoisted up on lamp posts across the city.

The eye-catching flags were put up by workers yesterday in a bid to make as many people in the city – and visitors – aware of the festival.

There were an array of banners installed on the Barbican and, today, there will be more going up on Embankment Road, Royal Parade and on the Hoe. About 250 banners will be in place across the city by the end of the weekend. About £50,000 has been invested in them.

David Draffan, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: "The banners for the festival have been redesigned this year.

"We are trying to create an atmosphere of excitement so people can start to think about what's on in Plymouth over the summer."

This year's festival will run in the city between next month and September. The line-up was unveiled last week. The festival was first launched in 2007 and was a bigger success last summer – but this year promises to be the best yet.

There will be hundreds of events. Highlights include Rod Stewart at Home Park on July 2, the OSTAR Single-Handed Transatlantic Race on May 25, VolksFest from May 22 to 25, and the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival, from May 1 to May 10.

For details, visit www.plymouth summerfestival.com