Teesside will be a blaze of colour during a five-day folk festival.

From Saturday to next Wednesday, dancers from all over Europe will converge on Middlesbrough for the Teesside International Eisteddfod.

The main competitions will take place in the Town Hall on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, while organised and impromptu concerts will be held on specially-built stages in Victoria Square, the Cleveland Shopping Centre and Captain Cook Square.

Community involvement will be a major feature of this year's Eisteddfod, with events and workshops taking place in Saltburn, Nunthorpe, Marske, Redcar, Stokesley, Ormesby, Coulby Newham and Hemlington.

Derek Richmond, the festival chairman, said: "The emphasis is being placed firmly on the community. All the competitive sessions will be free, and we hope the public will take the opportunity to see some of the best folk dancers in Europe."