A HOST of local acts take part in this year’s Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick, which gets under way tomorrow (Friday).

An array of entertainment is on offer during the festival, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary with a bumper 10-day programme of events.

And many of this year’s highlights hail from the county.

Niall Middleton, co-director of Fringe By The Sea, said: “The festival has always greatly appreciated the manner in which local residents have embraced this event.

“From buying tickets, volunteering and performing, their support is invaluable and we are pleased to have so many acts and events from East Lothian – there is so much local talent and enthusiasm and fantastic to involve as much as possible.

“The Spiegeltents are going up and after five months of hectic planning and amazing support from the local community, Fringe by the Sea is almost ready to roll. Bring on tomorrow!”

READ MORE: What's On at Fringe by the Sea 2018

The Famous Five are returning to Fringe by the Sea thanks to North Berwick Drama Circle – the group is performing a sequel to last year’s sell-out spoof on Enid Blyton’s classic series.

In Five Face the Phantom, Julian, George, Dick, Anne and Timmy the dog are again on holiday in North Berwick, this time investigating the ghostly organ music coming from the Harbour Pavilion and exploring the secret of the cave that runs through the Bass Rock.

There will be two performances – this time at St Andrew Blackadder Church – on August 9 and 10.

East Lothian Countryside Rangers are also offering a host of different events each day, while former council leader Dave Berry will lead daily tours of the town.

County authors Hannah Lavery (Sunday), Peter Ranscombe (Monday) and Debi Gliori (August 11) are also set to take part, as does Helen Bellany, wife of late Port Seton artist John Bellany, on Tuesday.

Singer Sadie Maskery is also among the acts who will perform at North Berwick Fry and she will be joined by Andy Brown on Monday.

On Tuesday evening, a film by North Berwick man Mike Day 'The Islands and the Whales' will be shown in Freemasons Hall – the 12A-rated film looks at the Faroe Islanders and their hunting of whales.

Neil Francis, a North Berwick businessman who rebuilt his life after a stroke by becoming a golf caddy and wrote about it in his first book Changing Course, will be in conversation with Bernie Petrie of the Barefoot Sanctuary on Wednesday. Local band Bombskare are among the acts, while there are also daily screenings from NB Movies and events run each day for both young and old at the Scottish Seabird Centre.

The festival will be headlined by Mercury Prize-winning musician Badly Drawn Boy, while also set to appear are rappers The Sugarhill Gang, comedians Jerry Sadowitz and Phil Kay, soul singer Mica Paris, Sir David Steel in conversation with Ruth Davidson MSP and former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway, saxophonist Tommy Smith, world-renowned guitarist John Goldie, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, Geno Washington, The Manfreds, Withered Hand, and author/journalist Misha Glenny.

For a day-by-day breakdown of some of the highlights of the festival, click here.

Visit fringebythe sea.com to book show tickets.