HISTORIC footage of a town in a bygone era will feature at this year’s Discover Middlesbrough Festival.

Held from Thursday, October 16 to Saturday, November 1, it will feature a wide range of events including film screenings, exhibitions, talks, walks, performances and bike rides.

Sponsored by Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, the North East Film Archive ‘Middlesbrough on Film – Take Two’ screening on Thursday, October 16 will showcase yesteryear footage.

Other events on the opening day include an international ‘Victorian Cities Revisited: Heritage and History’ Conference at Middlesbrough Town Hall, a Mima jewellery gallery tour, poetry festival and Hemlington Lake Walk.

Rob Nichols, joint co-ordinator of Discover Middlesbrough with Tracy Hyman, said: “This year’s Discover Middlesbrough programme will celebrate the town and its people in new and exciting ways.

“With such a wide selection of events, exhibitions, talks and walks we’re confident the Festival will attract people both from within Middlesbrough and further afield.

The Middlesbrough Council event is part funded by Middlesbrough College and the Heritage Lottery Fund-supported Tees Transporter Bridge Visitor Experience Project.

Ms Hyman added: “We are particularly excited about our first ever art weekend which will see galleries and studios opening late on a Friday and Saturday, providing a unique experience for visitors to the various venues across the town.”