WITCHES, Oompa-Loompas, Fantastic Foxes and a Big Friendly Giant descended on a town centre on Friday.
About 1,500 children from schools in Spennymoor, County Durham, dressed up as characters from Roald Dahl books to celebrate the life and work of the author who would have been 100 last month.
A Roald Dahl parade in Spennymoor, County Durham. Picture: TOM BANKS
In the afternoon there was a colourful fancy dress parade through the town centre, with lots of dancing and singing, which was followed by a night market.
Schools and businesses in the town and surrounding villages had joined forces for the event which was organised by Success (North-East), a community interest company which creates community, youth and family opportunities in the area.
It was funded with £13,000 from Spennymoor AAP and £4,000 from the neighbourhood budgets of Durham County Councillors Neil Foster, Barbara Graham, Ian Geldard and Pat Lawton.
Wendy Minhinnett, of Success (North-East), said the idea was to bring children from different schools and the wider community together for a fun event which will support town centre businesses.
In the weeks leading up to the event, traders paired up with schools to decorate shop windows and prepare stalls, hopefully creating a lasting relationship between families and retailers.
Ms Minhinnett said: “It was everything we wanted and more, we were so surprised and pleased with how many people came out. The town was buzzing.”
Judith Reeves, headteacher at St Charles Primary School, said: “It was an absolutely tremendous community event, every school in Spennymoor joined together and made a real effort.
"The parade was fantastic, there were lots of Roald Dahl's wonderful characters and the children were dancing with Willy Wonka and the BFG, I don't think I've seen Spennymoor so full.
“It also put a focus on reading and showed the enjoyment of books and the fantastic worlds you can travel into.”
Rochelle Jackson, of the gift shop Love Grace, said the day was great fun and traders enjoyed working with children and hopes residents went away feeling good about the town and what it has to offer so they decide to shop there in future.
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