FINAL preparations are under way for a huge music festival in Heaton Park this weekend – and businesses are gearing up to do a roaring trade.

Rita Ora and Plan B are just two of the major acts set to perform at the Parklife Weekender taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

About 40,000 fans a day are expected to attend.

Two Premier Inns near the park are fully booked and bed and breakfast establishments are also in high demand.

Pubs near the park such as The Woodthorpe and The Ostrich have bro-ught in extra supplies for the weekend.

Yvonne Farnsworth, licensee of The Welcome Inn, in Bury New Road, said: “The last set of concerts, when The Stone Roses played, was extremely busy for us so if that is anything to go by, we’re in for a good weekend.

“We are putting on extra staff and expect to have a busy day.

“It’s a big boost for pubs, restaurants and shops.”

Organisers have put up fencing around the arena and will carry out sound checks tomorrow from 4pm to 8pm.

Gates open on Saturday at 11am and the curfew will be 11pm. The same time restrictions apply for Sunday, though entry starts at noon. Ticketholders will not be allowed in after 5pm.

Extra police officers will be on duty working alongside stewards.

Park neighbours with concerns can call 0161 773 1085 up to 5pm tomorrow and 0161 954 9003 from 10am to 1am on performance days.

There is a street alcohol ban in force so people will not be allowed to drink on the streets around the park.

Organisers have also given some good news to Bury-based disability charity Jigsaw.

Earlier this year, Cllr Jane Black asked Parklife Weekender organiser Jon Drape if he would donate some funds raised by the festival to a local charity and Mr Drape has chosen Jigsaw.

Cllr Black, who repres-ents St Mary’s Ward, said: “I am thrilled that the organisers have resp-onded so fav-ourably to our suggestion. It will be a big boost for Jigsaw.”

Metro-Link is getting ready for its busiest ever weekend with about 150,000 people expected to attend events across the tram network on Saturday and Sunday.

The Parklife festival coincides with two Rod Stewart concerts at the Manchester Arena. On Saturday, Albert Square hosts the Grillstock BBQ and Music festival and Bon Jovi play the Eithad.

Festivalgoers attending Parklife are advised that the Heaton Park stop will be closed from 8pm onwards on both days due to limited crowd management facilities. After the event, passengers will be directed to the Bowker Vale station.

A special Parklife Express shuttle bus service will drop off and pick up inside the festival site. Tickets can be bought in advance from parklife.uk. com