AN estimated 1,500 youngsters took part in a National Playday event at Trimdon Grange yesterday sponsored by the County Durham Foundation.

Attractions included fairground rides, art and crafts, balloon modelling, Punch and Judy, circus skills, disco dancing and displays from the police and fire service.

Representatives from Walkers crisps and McDonald's restaurant in Newton Aycliffe joined in the fun. Millennium Volunteers helped to organise the day.

Lucy Hovvels, from Trimdon, chairwoman of the National Playday steering committee, said the only hitch was when portable toilets failed to arrive on time after the transporting vehicle was involved in a road accident.

"This is an annual event, but we have never had as many people as this," she said.

There were about 950 here last year, but we've probably had about 1,500 here and it's all free. What we're trying to do now is get more agencies involved and get more sponsorship in to build it up even more.

"This event is to highlight the importance of play to youngsters. A lot of kids are often stopped from playing and making noise, but they've made a lot of noise at this event and had a lot of fun."