BOURNEMOUTH’S action-packed Wheels Festival is to return in May.

The Bournemouth Wheels Festival attracted around 500,000 visitors to its inaugural event last year.

This year, it will take place between Friday, May 29 and Sunday, May 31.

The largely free festival offers the chance to see a variety of wheels-themed attractions, from historic cars to military vehicles and supercars.

There is also again set to be a packed programme of breathtaking stunts and displays, featuring daredevil motocross, BMX and skateboard teams, as well as F1 and precision drivers. This year organisers have announced that one of the highlights of the first event, the monster truck arena, will be doubled in size, giving fans more chances to watch car-crushing and power demonstrations and the opportunity to take a ride themselves.

On the seafront there will be stalls, a funfair and a live music stage between the piers.

The event will be split into six zones, including military vehicles, desert driving and stunt arenas and the cliff-top demonstration straight.

New for this year is a pop-up arena on the East Overcliff demonstration straight, where thrill-seekers can watch adrenalin-fuelled quad bike, freewheel and precision driving stunt shows.

Cllr Lawrence Williams, Bournemouth’s portfolio holder for tourism, said: “The Wheels Festival is much more than just a motor event owing to the sheer number and variety of vehicles on display and attractions on offer.

“There is so much going on that it will take more than a day to see everything – we’ve planned it that way so that residents and visitors to Bournemouth have the best possible experience of the town.”

Also again this year children and families will be able to take part in the Big Community Bike Night Glow along East Overcliff Drive on Friday, May 29. Cyclists are encouraged to decorate themselves and their bikes with brightly coloured or glow-in-the-dark accessories to join in the night-time ride.

Mark Smith, director of tourism, added: “Wheels is a unique and dynamic festival, making it a big draw for families from all over the UK.

“It’s a great way to start the season and we want residents to enjoy and take pride in this thrilling event.”