A CELEBRATION of thrifty living generated a £500,000 financial boost to the local economy.

Last year’s Festival of Thrift at Kirkleatham attracted 35,000 people across the two-event in September.

The details emerged from an impact report carried out by the Festival organisers which also identified that expenditure from visitors supported ten full-time jobs.

In addition the event saw an increase in tourism into Kirkleatham and Redcar, attracting visitors from a wide-ranging area stretching into North Yorkshire and beyond.

Festival of Thrift director Stella Hall said the report highlights the growing success of the event and the positive impact it has on Redcar and the wider Tees Valley region.

“We are so pleased that we were able to help bring some good news to Redcar with last year’s event. Feedback received in our evaluation also showed that following on from the Festival it has produced the less tangible but equally important benefit of increased pride in place.”

Councillor Carl Quartermain, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s cabinet member for jobs, skills & leisure, said: “The next Festival of Thrift is on September 23 and 24 September and I would encourage as many people as possible to come down and enjoy what should be another excellent event from this national award winning festival.”

Further details of this year’s event can be found at www.festivalofthrift.co.uk