A 'big name' musician is set to play Halton Stadium next year as part of the 2021 Borough of Culture celebrations.

Halton Council is aiming to hold a major concert at the stadium for the first time since Elton John played the venue in 2017, with the headline act expected to be announced soon.

At a committee meeting on Monday night, council officer Chris Patino said: “We are probably maybe two or three weeks away from announcing a big name who will be there at the stadium.

“If he goes ahead, it will be going ahead on July 2 next year. It will be another event like the Elton John one.”

The 2017 concert saw the pop superstar play to a sell-out crowd of 14,000 people at the stadium in Widnes, something the council will be keen to replicate.

The concert would form a major part of Halton’s year as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, which Mr Patino said now had a budget of between £600,000 and £700,000.

Along with the concert, the council is planning a series of events including a parade across the Silver Jubilee Bridge, grassroots concerts, a light festival at Norton Priory and the unveiling of several pieces of public art.

But while councillors and officers were excited about the programme, it will depend to a great extent on how the Covid-19 pandemic develops over the coming months.

Mr Patino appeared hopeful that news of successful vaccine trials would mean spring 2021 could see the borough returning to normal.

He said: “What we don’t know is when will things be safe.

“Come April/May, it might just be the perfect time to take the lid off things.”