BBC's Karen Bowerman follows fans on a trip down Abbey Road

It is nearly 30 years since the city's most famous musical sons were last seen performing together - singing Get Back on a rooftop for the film Let It Be.

But Liverpool's tourist industry is still benefiting from the worldwide appeal of the Fab Four. Organisers say many hotels will be full and expect visitors from 40 countries.

Not all are coming only to soak up the atmosphere, though. They will be joined by bands from across the world who perform Beatles music. They include acts from Japan, Brazil and Italy.

Garden party

There is even a foursome from back in the former USSR - called Rollover Moldova.

The festival includes a garden party at Strawberry Fields, a convention and Beatles flea market, as well as dozens of musical tributes.

A shrine for the fans: The Abbey Road studios

This year, the events have extended to London, where some of the visiting bands have been recording a tribute album to their heroes.

They are using the studio made famous by the LP Abbey Road and immortalised on its cover showing John, Paul, George and Ringo walking in single file across the nearby zebra crossing.

'Shrine of shrines'

Beatles pilgrims have been attending the recording sessions. Some even provided the chorus for the anthem All You Need Is Love.

One American said after his Abbey Road visit: "It's like being in the shrine of shrines. For a Beatles fan, you can't get better than this."

Another commented: "It's the epitome of my life's dream. I can die happy."

One of the festival's organisers, Steve McGriskin, put the group's enduring success down to "quality and originality".

But he added: "I'm a soul fan myself!"