With just days to go before the event starts on Saturday, festival organisers have secured Argentinian dance band Baller El Cimarron.

And it appears that El Cimarron is a huge coup for Alnwick festival fans with the group boasting an impressive CV.

Having tangoed in each continent of the world – most recently in Europe at festivals in Spain and France – the group has represented Argentina at the highest level.

Meanwhile its leader Omar Fierdelmondo has received a UNESCO award in 2004 for his achievement in the world of dance.

The acquisition comes courtesy of organisers at the Billingham International Folklore Festival.

The South American band has been performing at the event which runs until Saturday but the group are not returning to their homeland until Tuesday, August 7.

And with the Alnwick festival – which runs from Saturday to Saturday, August 11 – overlapping the Billingham event, its organisers have handed the group over.

It means that El Cimarron – dubbed by Billingham festival organiser Joe Maloney as "out of this world" – will be performing in Alnwick on Sunday and Monday.

And as an extra treat, the group will be on stage at Alnwick Playhouse in Monday nights' Dancer's Delight showcase along with acts from Poland and Turkey.

Mr Maloney said: "They are absolutely out of this world. They are excellent and the people of Alnwick are in for a treat.

"They are such a vibrant and colourful group. You have to see it to believe it."

The group last performed at the Billingham festival in 1996.

Mr Maloney added: "They are even better this time around than the last time they were here."

A delighted Don Watson, Alnwick festival treasurer, said: "This has filled the gap left by the Ukrainians. It is a huge boost.

"With most groups here all of the time, the Slovenian band here on Friday, August 10 and now El Cimarron performing on two days, it means that the programme is filling up nicely."

Groups will perform daily in the Market Place.