A NORTH-EAST flower show will open for three full days this year for the first time in its 13-year history.

The Gateshead Summer Flower Show, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors from throughout the region and from further afield, will open from 10am to 5.30pm on Friday Saturday and Sunday next week.

The show features more than 200,000sq ft of marquee tenting and is the largest show of its kind in the North-East.

There will be hundreds of floral exhibits and trade displays, a huge craft fair, free children's activities, soft play, face-painting and musical entertainment.

There will also be a display of vehicles from the North-East Area of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society.

A free park-and-ride service is available every 15 minutes from the MetroCentre Coach Park throughout the three days of the show.

For further informationabout the show, telephone 0191-490 1311.