FINAL preparations are underway to transform one of the UK’s most unique racecourses into a concert venue for a star-studded night of live music.

Sir Cliff Richard, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Fly Boys will entertain the crowds when Cartmel Racecourse is ‘wired for sound’ at its summer concert this Friday following a thrill-packed afternoon of horse racing.

A specialist construction team will descend upon the normally tranquil location today to construct a full stage and sound system along with a backstage facility fit for the 2019 line up of world-class performers.

And with temperatures set to soar over the weekend, organisers are now getting set to dish out suncream from information points across the course while they ensure plentiful supplies of beer, Prosecco, cold drinks and ice cream.

Steve Cooper, managing director of Holker Racing and Leisure, said 12 months of hard work and planning by his team would come to fruition this week as one of the region’s best loved days out took place.

“A huge amount of hard work goes into bringing our concert day together throughout the year, but things really ramp up in the final week,” he said.

“Transforming the course into a concert venue in a matter of days is a finely choreographed operation."

Following seven exciting races, attention will move to the concert itself with chart topper Sophie Ellis-Bextor taking to the stage at 6pm.

Next, The Fly Boys will put a vintage swing twist on a host of modern tracks before headline act Sir Cliff Richard fills the Cartmel valley with sound from approximately 8pm.

And to make sure concert-goers are able to get home as swiftly as possible, Network Rail will run a later train from Cark Station at 10.20pm with double the usual number of carriages available.

The entire stage, backstage area and concert seating will be removed on Saturday in time for a full day of racing on Sunday.

Tickets are available at cartmel-racecourse.co.uk until midnight tomorrow.