THE legend of Hay-on-Fire hasn't died in the decade since its last outing and word is spreading like wildfire that, this month, professional clown David Eveleigh and his Department of Fun will be staging an event to blow the cobwebs off the memories.

With funding from Awards for All and support from Hay businesses, Hay-on-Fire includes free half-term workshops for all ages, building up to one spectacular event on Saturday, October 28.

"Only the best for Hay," said David 10 days prior to the theatrical extravaganza, which will involve a lantern procession through the town accompanied by 50-piece Samba Tawe, leading to a spectacular fire show at The Warren. "There'll be dragons floating down river, a phoenix fire sculpture and a huge Welsh dragon."

This year's festival takes the theme of borders and among the borderline fun will be the cross-dressing Rebbecca Morris. It's a real community effort - as ever - with various local people contributing as dragon builders, costume makers, designers, stewards and morris dancers.

The primary schools in Clifford, Clyro, and Hay have all been provided with free masks to decorate so that the pupils will feel encouraged to participate in the torchlit procession. "I'm hoping it'll be a nice moonlit evening but everything will light, come rain or shine," David said. With 25 years experience in the entertaining business, this is a man that knows.

Better known as his alter ego, Goffee the Clown, David is the longest serving clown at Glastonbury and is used to directing large scale fire festivals. "There'll be no dress rehearsal," he said. "Maybe a walk through."

The free half-term workshops will take place at the Drill Hall and opposite the community centre with lantern making and processional workshops on Wednesday from 2-5pm; Thursday and Friday from 3-5pm and 7-9pm: junk percussion with Bang on Samba on Thursday and Friday from 2-5pm (ages 13+): samba dance with Mely on Thursday and Friday from 2-3.30pm (ages 7-12) and 4-5.30pm (all ages). In addition to the procession, which will start from the Market Square at 6pm, there is a conker championship taking place in the Butter Market on Saturday daytime, a series of short films being shown at The Wheatsheaf pub on Thursday evening and ongoing live entertainment with Captain Paranoid and The Delusions playing at the Community Centre later on Saturday. Full information is available at www.Departmentof Enjoyment.org