ENTHUSIASTS of sailing ships are in for a treat over this coming Bank Holiday weekend, as the tall ships come up the Severn, headed for this weekends Tall Ships Festival in Gloucester docks.

Friday morning will see the Morgenster, an attractive two masted brigantine ship which is based in Holland, sailing up the river to enter the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, before it reaches its' berth in the docks during the afternoon.

To get to the docks, all the ships have to negotiate eighteen bridges between the Severn at Sharpness and the city, as they travels along the sixteen mile canal.

The Gloucester Tall Ships Festival runs from Saturday to Monday, and will feature six tall ships, plus a variety of family entertainment.

Three ships will be making their debut this year: the Morgenster, plus schooner Atyla, and Baltic trawler Keewaydin.

Ticket holders to the festival are allowed to board the ships, and even enter the dry dock to see a restoration project, while a weekend of activities includes pirate battles and live music.