A POPULAR event is to return to Eastleigh with a surprise for all Saints fans.

The Mela festival will be returning for its twelfth year and will see former Saints’ 1976 FA Cup-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy as a special guest.

The town will be transformed into an explosion of colours and culture on Sunday July 30 when hundreds, if not thousands, of people are expected to pack the streets.

Mr McMenemy will officially kick start the event at 12pm at the Recreation Ground next to The Point arts centre and celebrations will be on until 6pm.

Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy live music, entertainment, food from across the world and a lot more.

The free festival is organised every year by the Eastleigh Asian Welfare and Cultural Association (AWCA) and aims to bring different cultures together and offer residents a day of family fun.

Mohammed Mossadaq, founder of the Mela, said: “We are celebrating cultures’ fusion and now more than ever is important to do that. We want people to understand each other and enjoy time together.”

A miniature steam train is the new attraction this year while 2012 Masterchef winner Shelina Permalloo, who launched her Mauritian restaurant Lakaz Maman in Southampton, will return to the festival to hold cooking workshops.

Meanwhile, performers from across the country will showcase their skills in music and dance shows in a bid to wow residents.

During the day there will be the opportunity to try food from all different parts of the world and get involved in a variety of activities such as creative crafts, kite making, face painting, Taekwondo and Indian martial arts.

There will also be stalls giving where attendees can receive basic health checks and information and find out more about local community projects.

Mr Mossadaq said: “We want to continue and we want to make the event even bigger next year.

“This is a completely voluntary event, there’s no financial reward, it’s just making the community together that makes everybody happy,” he added.