PIRATES are to invade Stockton as part of a special charity day.

The first Stockton Pirate Day will take place on Saturday, June 28 and the event has been dubbed Stockton's biggest ever fancy dress party.

There will be various events throughout the day and more than 60 bands will dress up as pirates to perform across the town on the night.

Money raised will go the town's Sea Cadets, who are heavily involved in organising the day, and The Daisy Chain, a Norton charity which helps families dealing with autism.

The events will begin at HM Bark Endeavour on the Tees at 11am and an hour later two pirate look-a-likes will do impressions of Pirates of the Caribbean film characters Captain Jack Sparrow and his sidekick Will Turner. The pirates will capture the Endeavour and raise the Jolly Roger and the fun will begin.

There will be three live music stages, a craft fair, hog roast, treasure hunt and best dressed pirate contest.

Organiser Angie Taylor, from Stockton, said: "We've had some great pirate days in Whitby and thought we'd do something here but we had no idea how well it would take off. It's gone absolutely nuts. We've got people coming from as far as Berwick and Withernsea.

"As well as raising money for charity we want to help promote the town and the treasure hunt is designed to get people to find all the hidden places of the town. We'd love everyone to get dressed up as pirates too."

Details are available at http://stocktonpiratefest.com Entry is free and the event finishes at 8.30pm.