A FLEDGLING North-East festival that has proved a big hit with visitors has scooped a national award.

The Festival of Thrift, held at Darlington’s Lingfield Point, has scooped the award for Arts and Culture at the prestigious Observer Ethical Awards 2015.

The festival claims to be the only one of its kind in the country to celebrate sustainable and thrifty living and since its launch in 2013 it has attracted 80,000 visitors through the gates.

At a glittering awards ceremony in London on Thursday evening, event organisers were praised for putting creative sustainability at the heart of the festival and for its enviable national reach and solid community engagement.

Festival director, Stella Hall, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Festival of Thrift team, our funders, supporters and our community.

“The festival is all about showing people how reusing, recycling and upcycling can be fun, save money and benefit the environment at the same time.

“Last year’s event saw a phenomenal turnout and we are delighted to have its success recognised by the Ethical Awards 2015.

“We are developing a fantastic programme for 2015, which will bring together specially commissioned performances, delicious food, demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops offering frugal advice, tips and thrifty tricks to festival-goers of all ages at Lingfield Point.”

Wayne Hemingway MBE, Festival co-founder, said: “Festival of Thrift is a wonderful celebration of thriftiness and sustainability that has truly captured the nation’s imagination, and each year visitor numbers have grown from strength-to-strength.

“To see the hard work and passion of the team behind the festival celebrated on such a national scale as the Observer Ethical Awards is marvellous.”

Councillor Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said praised the festival’s achievement and said: “The Festival of Thrift is a cultural celebration for the people of the Darlington, the North-East, the UK and beyond, which truly captures the spirit of Darlington, Darlington Partnership and Ingenious Darlington.

“The Festival has grown with support from the private, public and voluntary sector organisations and individuals and has truly put Darlington on the map.”

The festival returns to Lingfield Point over the weekend of September 26, following a launch event in Darlington town centre on September 25.