Spectators are set to line the route as stars of this weekend's Gloucester Tall Ships Festival make their much-anticipated journey into Gloucester Docks.

La Malouine (pictured) and Lady of Avenel - two of the seven tall ships at this year's Spring Bank Holiday event - will set off from Monk Meadow Quay from about 1.30pm on Friday and head majestically towards the docks.

The sail-in, which takes the ships past the likes of Sainsbury's and Gloucestershire College, has proved extremely popular with spectators in previous years and the arrival of La Malouine and Lady of Avenel will prove no exception.

The other five ships - Johanna Lucretia, The Matthew, Olga, White Heather and Keewaydin - are expected to have already arrived.

The festival, which starts on Saturday and runs until Monday, will include a life-saving demonstration by dogs from Newfound Friends, action from the Industry Pro Wakeboard Tour, sword fighting displays from Captain Jack, live music, a vintage fairground and food and drink stalls.

Running alongside, the third Gloucester Shanty Festival will showcase a great line-up of around 30 acclaimed acts performing at various venues around the city centre.

As Gloucester Docks is the best preserved Victorian inland port in the UK, characters from the era will be parading around in distinctive garb during the festival.

Access-all-areas wristbands for the Tall Ships Festival cost £7 and are valid for all three days.

The wristbands will provide entry to all the tall ships taking part, the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the National Waterways Museum.

Admission to the festival is free for under-12s accompanied by a paying adult.

The festival, which takes place every two years, attracted record crowds of 120,000 in 2015 and scooped numerous accolades.

Access-all-areas wristbands for the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival are available from www.gloucestertallships.co.uk  and the Gloucester Tourist Information Centre.

Day passes costing £3, which will provide only access to the site, are available at the gate and from the Gloucester Tourist Information Centre.