4BR has been informed of the changes that have been made at Uppermill's Whit Friday venue which will take place next week, 28th May.

The changes come after discussions with Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police.

The organising committee have advised 4BR that competing bands should be aware of the following points:

High Street closed

The main street in Uppermill, High Street, will be closed to none-essential traffic whilst the contest is ongoing.

All of the band buses will stack up on the road into Uppermill and registration will still take place on the Museum Car Park – from where the march will begin.

The March will be played up to the bank as usual and bands will then be lead in through the Library Gardens to the stand which will be in a slightly different position than in previous years.

Buses on the high street

When the bands have finished playing their march, they will depart the arena up St Mary’s Gate to their bus which will be waiting in High Street.

This means that the bands will not have to go through the Square to the bus terminus.

For the comfort of the bands there will be toilets on the Museum car park along with a food wagon.

The first prize this year is £1,000 and there are prizes in all sections with the contest getting underway at 4pm.

A spokesperson for Uppermill's Whit Friday contest told 4BR 'that we hope this new arrangement works for the bands and public alike.'