"There's a lot of expectations," they explain.

So Basel, with its geographic location and its history of tolerance, and Eurovision with its tradition of inclusivity and diversity are, he says "the perfect match".Last year's contest in Malmo attracted

and further protests against the war in Gaza are expected in Basel too.Police have not yet released their plans to manage this, but have said that everyone should have the right to express their opinion, as long they stay within the law, and do not risk the safety of others.Throughout the contest they say 1,300 officers will be on duty. Basel has also unveiled a security operation to ensure visitors can enjoy the song contest safely. They are promising "mobile awareness teams", safe retreats for victims of violence or hostility and a 24-hour hotline. The concept, which Basel officials describe as unique, aims to prevent violence, sexual assault or harassment, and racist aggression and insults.

The awareness teams, recognisable by their pink jackets, will be available 24 hours a day across the city. Basel's security director Stephanie Eymann said the teams were a "low-threshold" measure to give visitors a chance to report harassment or assaults, and seek protection, even if some might not want to approach the police.The entire town appears to have embraced the event, with turquoise welcome flags now waving from every lamp post. Tickets for the contest itself sold out in minutes, but Basel is promising that there will be "something for everyone", ticket or no ticket, and most of it will be free.

"There will be concerts all over the city, there will be art projects," says tourism director Letizia Elia. Basel has 40 museums and galleries in a space of just 37 square kilometres, a record for a European city, and they are all getting involved.

An exhibition featuring works by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Wassily Kandinsky, and Pablo Picasso has opened at the Beyeler Foundation, where Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's We are Poems rainbow sculpture sits on the roof. There's also a Glitz and Glam exhibition at Basel's museum of natural history.A river campaigner is calling for a pause on planning permission for intensive chicken farms in Shropshire over concerns animal manure is contributing to water pollution.

A number of farms have been givenin recent years and four new sites

“We should be taking stock and finding out what the situation is, before we carry on giving them permission,” said Alison Caffyn, a volunteer for the Severn Rivers Trust.The National Farmers Union said it recognised there were challenges and farmers were “working hard” to prevent issues that contributed to water pollution.