THIS year’s Stockton International Riverside Festival kicked off with a spectacular tribute to wounded war veterans.

The night saw an outdoor display by performers from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans’ alongside professional actors and local community choirs from across Tees valley.

Over 700 people packed into the special viewing area on Stockton high street to watch the ‘This Is Not For You’ show.

Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: "It was a really moving experience and it felt like a real privilege to watch the veterans in action."

Visitors were also given the chance to see The Danger Tree exhibition which marked a centenary since the end of World War One.

The pieces created by Scarlett Raven, show fields of flowers and poppies in traditional oil paintings.

She said: "This is my first time to Stockton and I’ve been blown away by the reception and what the council and people of Stockton have done.

"They have built the set for us so to arrive and everything be set up, it's amazing."

Marc Marot animates the art pieces. He was inspired to create the exhibition after hearing old war stories.

His grandfather was injured in the war after a piece of shrapnel removed most of his jaw and part of his right ear. He was left with four percent hearing and given five months to recover before being sent back into the war zone.

Mr Marot said: "Each of the paintings which are here in the exhibition tell stories of soldiers and battles and things that we find moving and emotional. We hope people will get something from it."

For more information about SIRF visit www.sirf.co.uk