TWO festivals in Stockton have been voted a success by organisers.

The Riverside International Festival and Circus 2000, which were held in the town in the summer, attracted visitors and acts from around the country.

It was the 13th time the Riverside festival had been held, and it was the largest event of its kind in the UK during the year, while Circus 2000 was arranged as part of the town's millennium celebrations.

A spokesman for the borough council said: "From the artistic perspective, the 2000 Riverside Festival was as eye- catching and successful as we could have asked for in the millennium year."

A website set up for people to find out more about the festival received 30,000 hits in June, 74,000 in July and 36,000 in August.