COLOURFUL sights and distinctive sounds of traditional American country music and dancing were played out to an appreciative city centre audience.

Weekend visitors to Durham were given a flavour of the “old time” culture of inland eastern state country settlers in the United States.

The Appalachian music and dance weekend attracted eight clogging teams and accompanying musicians from across the country.

Hosted by County Durham’s Step This Way Appalachian Cloggers and the Bones Creek Band, it showcased the style in front of amused shoppers, tourists and other city centre visitors.

Opening night activities featured a Contra contest, backed by the massed musicians attending for the event and overseen by professional dance caller Burt Hunter, at Durham Amateur Rowing Club’s boathouse, where many visitors pitched camp for the weekend.

Saturday’s performances were staged to the backdrop of St Nicholas Church, in the Market Place, while dancers and musicians retreated to the John Duck pub in Claypath, courtesy of manager Jim Cockerill, as rain cast a shadow over the planned outdoor display today (Sunday June 28).

Further details on Appalachian dancing are available via the Step This Way troupe, who rehearse weekly at Nettlesworth Community Centre, near Chester-le-Street, via its website, www.stepthisway.org.uk, or by ringing 0191-388-0971.