CONGLETON people concerned about the future of the earth are being invited to take part in a day-long festival.

The event next month at Astbury Mere Country Park will focus on what the public can do in their own homes to save energy.

There will be numerous activities and displays, practical support and ideas, and entry to the festival is free.

In addition there will be a competition for young people between the ages of 11 and 18 to design an eco-friendly house.

The festival is entitled Think Global, Act Local, is scheduled to take place on Sunday October 6, and will run from 10am to 4pm.

It is being organised by the Congleton Southern Fringes Project and Congleton Community Projects under the banner of Beacon 21.

"We are staging the festival to celebrate the work started at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit 10 years ago," said Southern Fringes project officer Jo Moss.

"In 1994 a group of local environmentalists formed Beacon 21, Backyard Environment Agenda 21 Congleton, which sought to raise awareness of a wide range of environmental issues of importance to local people and of planetary concern.

"World leaders are meeting at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg to discuss sustainable development and continuing the work started at Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago.

"As far as we know next month's festival is the only community-organised event in Cheshire to be marking Rio + 10."

For further information or to take part in the festival please ring 01260-297237.