Durham Markets Company is gearing up for two colourful events to entertain visitors over an extended Bank Holiday weekend.

As a foreword to the weekend, Durham Children’s Book Festival returns to the city, on Thursday and Friday, August 24 and 25.

The free festival should prove a family-friendly page-turner featuring author and illustrator workshops in the Market Place, a treasure trail around the city centre, circus skills master classes, costumed characters, free face painting and more.

Now in its third year, the children’s book festival gives youngsters the chance to meet authors and illustrators face to face, with seven of the region’s most exciting children’s writers featuring at the event.

Read more: Book fair adds a new chapter for children this weekend

Meanwhile, for motor enthusiasts of a certain vintage Durham Classic Car Show returns, on Bank Holiday Monday (August 28).

It will see more than a hundred classic cars making their way to city centre, with displays on Framwellgate and Elvet bridges, plus in Millennium Place, the Market Place and in front of the cathedral, on Palace Green.

Also a free event for visitors, the classic car show provides the opportunity to chat with the proud vehicle owners, and to photograph and video the sometimes rare old masters of the road.

Alice Wilkes, marketing and administration manager for Durham Market, said the company is proud to be promoting and organising these two events once more this year.

She said: “We’re coming to the end of the school holidays, and maybe the kids are a little bored and looking for something completely different to do.

“These two events are geared up for families.

“They’re free to attend and, we hope, they will give visitors something a bit different to enjoy.”

She urged visitors that while in Durham they should make the most of what else the city has to offer.

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Both the Market Hall and an Outdoor Market will be open on the days of both events, while the many cafes, restaurants and other eating and drinking venues of the city will be offering plenty of hospitality.

There is also the ongoing Gaia artwork exhibition at Durham Cathedral and other attractions across the city to entertain and amuse visitors old and young alike.

For more information about Durham Children’s Book Festival and Durham Classic Car Show, would-be visitors should take a look at durhammarkets.co.uk/event, which will outline what’s on and when.