THE biggest annual street arts festival in the country transformed a North-East high street into an array of colourful flotsam and jetsam at the weekend.

The magic of the River Tees and what can be found in it, provided the theme of a procession that was one of the highlights of the annual Stockton International Riverside Festival.

About 500 youngsters took part in the parade through the town centre. Their costumes ranged from ugly bugs to crazy go-karts.

Barbara Agar, one of the artistic Bravura team behind the carnival, said: "This year's carnival celebrates the awesome qualities of the River Tees from source to mouth. Pounding waves, meandering waters and drops of rain - a myriad of fish, river weed, flotsam and jetsam."

The festival, which featured performers from a Chinese circus among entertainers from other parts of the world, ended last night with a spectacular 25-metre man-made special effects volcano belching fire and smoke.