EIGHTIES legends T’Pau and Aswad headlined a popular music festival in the region.

More than 1,300 people including many families attended Shildonbury Party in the Park Festival on Saturday (August 13) and enjoyed music from nine talented acts.

British band Aswad’s smooth mix of R&B, soul and reggae went down especially well with the audience who had gathered in the sun-drenched Timothy Hackworth Park in Shildon, County Durham, for the event.

T’Pau, meanwhile, rounded off the evening with a fantastic rendition of their classic number one song China in Your Hand.

The performance prompted a sea of swaying hands in the crowd, with many spectators singing along to every word even though some of them were not even born when the song was released.

The festival was organised by Shildon resident, Alan Meadows of Northern Productions, and local music production company Wannasee.

Mr Meadows said: “We were delighted with the event and will definitely bring it back next year. We would like to thank Shildon Town Council for its support.”

Paul Watson and John Brannan, of Wannasee, are proud to have brought such well known acts to the area and hope to attract more big names in the future.

Mr Brannan said: “It’s great to give the community something to enjoy during the long summer holidays. Bringing people to Shildon from the surrounding areas is a really positive thing too.”