Registration for free tickets to a world-famous festival is now open.

Northumbrian Water's Innovation Festival, set for Monday 8 to Thursday, July 11, is returning to Newcastle Racecourse this year.

The eighth annual event promises celebrity guests, musical performances, wellness sessions, comedy acts, and most importantly, various competitions aimed at addressing complex environmental and social problems.

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This year's theme 'speed and scale', encourages quick progression and growth of ideas in tackling these issues.

The four-day event expects to host thousands of visitors, including 400 Year 10 students attending a parallel event - The Young Citizen's Work Experience Festival.

This mini gathering, a new addition to the festival, is designed to give 14 and 15-year-olds hands-on work experience.

Head of innovation at the company, Angela MacOscar said: "Every year, our Innovation Festival gets bigger and better, and our theme of Speed and Scale really is going to reflect what we are hoping to achieve this year."

She added: "Yet again, we are venturing into the unknown with our Young Citizens event, and we can’t wait to see how our young people really embrace the world of innovation throughout the week."

Registration is open at www.innovationfestival.org/register.