UNKNOWN groups that put the heart into Northwich are being urged to get involved in a festival and shout about what they do.

The first Hearts of Northwich Community Festival takes place on Valentine's weekend next year and organisers are appealing for organisations to get involved.

Gordon Atkinson, organiser, said: "Our aim is for a community event and the core, the real heart, of the weekend is about us having an exhibition where we are looking for community groups and charities, the dozens of small groups that most of us don't know about.

"They're the groups that are the social fabric of our community.

"We want them to have a stand and tell us who they are, what they do and how they contribute to the beating heart of the district."

He stressed that the exhibition, which takes place at St Helen's Church from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, February 14, is not a market to sell items or fundraise but a place to raise awareness.

The church, in Church Road, will be open from 10am to noon on Saturday, October 4, for groups to see how the space could work for them and to ask questions of the organisers.

The Hearts of Northwich Community Festival will also include a Valentine concert and a Songs of Praise event.

For more information email heartsofnorthwich@gmail.com or visit the church on October 4.