FAMILIES were invited to step back in time yesterday as part of a countryside festival.

The Knights of the Black Phoenix, a re-enactment group, were one of the attractions at Summerhill in Hartlepool, where they staged jousting displays and took part in mock combat using weapons such as broad swords, axes and maces.

As well as the knights, another attraction at the event was a birds of prey demonstration staged by the Exotic Animal Welfare Trust. Other attractions included a beekeeper, a willow weaver and a woodworking group.

The landscape interpretation officer at Summerhill, Jenny Phillips, said: "This was our second countryside festival and we had a good turn-out. "We had hoped for lots of sunshine but, if the weather was not too good, we had plans to put up a marquee."