PREPARATIONS for an all-encompassing day of youth in Warrington are well underway.

Organisers of this year's Celebration of Youth - COY2001 - have given the Guardian a sneak preview of what is in store for youngsters across the town this July.

Pop stars, film stars, sports stars and fashion stars are all on the cards for the event which looks set to take over the old market place on July 28.

The aim of COY2001 is to celebrate the talents of the town's youngsters across the spectrum - from music to fashion and sports to organisation.

What makes it different from a lot of youth events is that young people are being involved from the very top to the bottom.

They have designed the advertisements, are organising the different competitions, are keeping the different events together and are playing a major part in planning the whole event.

And that is an important part of its success, according to one of the organisers, Kelly Simcock.

She said: "The whole aim of Celebration of Youth is to involve youngsters of all ages from across the community and if we can get them connected with the advertising and organising then it makes it their event even more.

"Some of the ideas they have come up with are brilliant and I am really proud of them. It is going to be an amazing event."

This year's event has been organised by the Bigger Picture, Millennium Volunteers, the Young People's Centre, Agenda 21, Youth Action and Golden Square shopping centre.

Read the Guardian for all the latest in the run up to COY2001.