KidsFest is a free family event and takes place for the third consecutive year at Stanley Park in Anfield at the end of the Summer holidays. Andrew Wright reports.

A trio of singing stars from ITV show The Voice Kids UK will join the line-up at free festival KidsFest on August 20.

Fans of the talent show will recognise rapper Lil T and singer Jake McKechnie, who were mentored by show judge Will i.am, and fellow vocalist Lewis Blissett, who was signed up for Team Pixie Lott.

KidsFest is a free family event and takes place for the third consecutive year at Stanley Park in Anfield.

The free festival has seen more than 15,000 visitors since it was first held two years ago.

The festival is organised by the James Bulger Memorial Trust (JBMT) in partnership with Orb Events.

The Trust was set up in memory of toddler James Bulger, and its mission is to fund and organise holidays and respite breaks for deserving children and their families.

Leicester schoolboy Lil T has been rapping since he was eight, and has performed alongside various artists including P Money and Sam Bailey.

Lil T said: “I am so honoured and excited to be performing at KidsFest for such a good cause.”

Jake, who is from Orrell, impressed on the show with his rendition of John Legend’s All of Me. Will.i.am described him as “pretty awesome” and praised his ‘powerful vocal performance’.

Jake commented: “I am really looking forward to performing at Kidsfest in support of the James Bulger Memorial Trust. It’s going to be a great day.”

Self-taught 13-year-old Lewis Blissett also dances and is a fan of performing power ballads. He has chosen to sing Inspired by Miley Cyrus and Somewhere Over The Rainbow at KidsFest.

Lewis said: “I feel honoured to perform at this amazing event, turning negative into a positive, with families coming together to support such a great charity. I hope that I do the James Bulger Memorial Trust and James’ family proud.”

Lil T, Jake and Lewis are the latest additions to a programme which already included SingMe Merseyside, and talented youngsters from LMA (Liverpool Media Academy), who have just been seen on BBC’s Pitch Battle.

Attractions also include a ‘Silly Sports Day’, fairground rides, a Royal Marine assault course, family football tournament and a pop-up food market.

Denise Fergus, James’ mother and patron of the James Bulger Memorial Trust, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Lil T, Jake and Lewis to the KidsFest 2017 line-up.

“When we launched KidsFest it was another way of remembering James and creating a positive and inspirational legacy in his name.”

KidsFest takes place on Sunday, August 20 at Stanley Park.