AROUND 40,000 people are expected to flock to the cultural cauldron of the Merchant City this weekend for four days of round-the-clock action.

The sixth annual Merchant City Festival swings into action today, fusing the worlds of arts, entertainment and high fashion in spectacular style.

Yasmin and Simon Le Bon's daughter Amber, right, will make her catwalk debut in the Glasgow Rocks fashion event tonight at Corinthian, paving the way for a week of live' shopping extravaganzas in the shop windows of Agent Provocateur, Mulberry, Cruise, Jaeger and Crombie on Saturday afternoon.

The festival's biggest programme to date also features performances from international street theatre companies, Scottish Opera, BBC SSO, top comedians, a giant maze in George Square and a film programme in association with BAFTA Scotland.

The 2007 programme includes everything from theatre and live music on the streets to visual art and clubbing.

Neil Butler, artistic director of UZ Events, said: "By concentrating on this incredibly vibrant part of the city, where so much is going on in the arts, people know that when you're there it's really happening.

"We want to have it bursting at the seams.

"When people come here, they know that there's a wonderful choice of things they can do and you can reach all of them within a ten minute walk."

A strong international element is on offer, with directors of festivals from around Europe selecting performers to showcase their skills on the streets of Glasgow.

The Carnival Arts Centre, home to the festival club, has a Sri Lankan theme this year, showcasing world music and dance from South Asia and Europe, comedy and curry as well as late night DJs.

Councillor Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The programme for this year's Merchant City Festival puts into sharp focus the quality and diversity of Glasgow's cultural scene.

"From classical music and comedy to opera and theatre - it's all there, and played out in the magnificent venues of Glasgow's historic mercantile quarter." Limmy's characters are coming to life

LOCAL comedy hero Limmy brings his highly acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show to Glasgow's Merchant City Festival this week.

Limmy, AKA Brian Limond, is doing a double-header on Thursday at Blackfriars, performing sell-out shows at 8pm and 10pm.

Brian has just emerged from the Fringe after a full-three week run of Limmy's Show at The Stand.

And that follows the huge success of his World of Glasgow podcasts and solo shows at this year's Glasgow Comedy Festival.

The one-hour long show, which received rave notices, including two five-star reviews, will again feature everything from routines about imaginary levers to Reporting Scotland presenter David Roberts apparently performing magic tricks.

The sell-out shows will also feature some favourite characters from the World of Glasgow podcasts, short video clips and one-man sketches.

Brian says the show will be tweaked slightly from the one he began with at the start of his Edinburgh run.

He says: "The Fringe was an education. It was good doing the same show every day. I learned a lot.

"People told me that the show I did at the start would be different from the show at the end of the run.

"I initially thought no it won't, I'm perfectly happy with my show, and I've no intention of changing it'. But they were right."

As the rest of the capital indulged in a month-long hedonistic carnival, one person was missing from the party.

Each night after the curtain went down on his show, Brian would travel home to Glasgow on the train.

He added: "I didn't get into the whole madness of the Fringe, go to lots of shows and meets lots of people. I got the train through to Edinburgh every day.

"Some people were shocked I did that, but I sat on the train with my iPod, had a think about the show and relaxed." Limmy's Show is on Thursday, at Blackfriars, 8pm and 10pm. See www.limmy.com for more information.

BARRY McDONALD