Liverpool's Grand National festival to open

The three-day Grand National festival is being opened later.

About 150,000 people are expected to attend the event, which is being opened at Liverpool's Aintree Racecourse by actor Ricky Tomlinson.

This year, the first day of the event is being called Liverpool Day, with music and comedy from local artists.

Friday will see the festival's annual fashion parade for Ladies' Day, with the famous John Smith's Grand National Steeplechase being held on Saturday.

On Thursday, racegoers will be entertained by former Cast and The La's front man John Power, tribute band The Bootleg Beatles and Liverpool band 6ix Toys.

The Beatles' Story waxworks, originally from Madame Tussauds, will be on display and people from The Beatles' Story dressed in Sergeant Pepper suits will be at the site.

Ricky Tomlinson, famous for his role as Jim Royle in The Royle Family and also his role in Brookside, will open the festival at 1340 BST.

He said: "If any city on the planet deserves to be commemorated, it is Liverpool.

"The Grand National is a time for Scousers and people throughout the UK to celebrate everything Liverpool has to offer.

"Liverpool Day is just the start of what promises to be a fantastic three-day event."

Visitors are being urged to use trains, taxis or local park-and-ride services to avoid traffic delays in the area around the ground.

Merseyside Police said spectators faced security checks where necessary to maintain their "excellent record of deterring crime and anti-social behaviour" at the festival.

New safety measures have been added to the Grand National course this year, including padded jumps and additional run outs for horses that lose their riders.