The Lady of the Lake Festival has been saved after local hotelier and entertainer Joe Mahon was arrested as he allegedly attempted to steal the Transformers Bumblebee car.

However, whilst being questioned by The Impartial Reporter after being apprehended, Joe, who is the vice chairman of the festival committee, claimed that he was only trying to teach Bumblebee to sing his favourite song.

"The Bumblebee car doesn't talk but it sings, so I'm teaching it to sing 'How Much is that Doggy in the Window'," said Joe, who hopes to be released in time for the festival's opening night.

Bumblebee was not available for comment.

The Transformers have crash landed to Earth and now they are taking over Irvinestown from Friday, July 7 to Sunday, July 16, which just so happens to coincide with the 44th Lady of the Lake Festival.

The 2023 festival will officially open on the Friday night with entertainment on Irvinestown main street as a parade featuring cross-community marching bands, the local Girls' Brigade and Boys' Brigade and Scouts kick off the festivities from 8pm. At 8.30pm, the 2022 Lady of the Lake Chloe McKevlin will arrive, followed at 8.45pm by the unveiling of the 2023 Lady of the Lake. What form of transport will she arrive by this year?

The festival will see the return of popular events including the Donkey Derby, Traditional Fair Day and Cross-Community and Inter-Denomination Service on White Island, to name a few, along with some new events.

"There will be a lawnmower racing event and there'll be a strongman and woman competition," said Joe, highlighting the new festival events for 2023.

'Transformers take over Irvinestown' is the theme for the Lady of the Lake Annual Fancy Dress Parade on Thursday, July 13, with everyone encouraged to get working on their costumes and "transform" themselves.

The annual truck run will return for the final day of the festival, on Sunday, July 16 starting at the Bawnacre at 2.30pm, and travelling around Fermanagh, passing through Lisnarick, Ederney, Kesh, Enniskillen and Ballinamallard before returning to Irvinestown for 4.45pm. The run will once again be in aid of Marie Curie.

"I look forward to the trucks every year. We started doing the truck run 23 years ago and over the years we have made over £900,000 [for Marie Curie]. I'd love to hit £1million," Joe told this newspaper.

A jam-packed programme is planned so in the words of Optimus Prime, "roll out" to Irvinestown for a fun-filled festival.