THE organiser of a new ‘Fringe Festival’ hopes it could grow big like the famous Edinburgh Fringe.

Jeremy Fowler said the emphasis for the festival, planned for Teesside between June 5 and 10, was on free entertainment.

Already eight venues have signed up to the festival which will feature music, art, comedy, poetry and novelty acts.

It will raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance charity.

Shows will take place in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton before a finale at the Symphonia Theatre, in Billingham, on June 10.

Mr Fowler runs Viking Events with his wife Amanda and said he wished to dedicate the new festival to her as she has terminal cancer.

He said: “It feels like the right thing to do. I have organised events and shows for many years through Viking Events and recognised the great talent that we have in the area.

“I want it to be a large event like Edinburgh Fringe, with as much free entertainment as possible.

“I need lots of people to come on board to make it happen. We are already making good progress, despite having no funding.

“Lots of people are getting excited about this and I feel it’s needed in Teesside. Hopefully it will go on to become an annual event and get bigger and better.”