A CONSERVATION success story in Darlington was celebrated as a storytelling festival got under way.

The restored stretch of the River Skerne, at the eastern end of the town, hosted one of the events that made up part of the Tales From The Tees festival.

The week-long regional festival will see storytellers spin yarns for people of all ages.

The Tees Forest Storytelling Festival started on Saturday. Events will take place at venues across the Tees Valley until Sunday.

The Summertime Stories on the Skerne event took place yesterday at the Skerne restoration site in Riverside Way, off Salters Lane South, Darlington.

Attractions included storywalks and circus skills demonstrations for all the family.

Storytellers Malcolm Green and Pat Renton, from Tyneside-based Bit Crack also performed.

Darlington Borough Council's countryside events officer, Susie Rutherford, said: "We had a similar event last year and we are trying to build on the success of that by helping people make the link between stories and nature."

The aim of the festival is to celebrate the ancient link between storytelling and the natural world. Tales From The Tees events are free and are being held at 18 open air venues, including community woodland, countryside centres, riverbanks and seaside locations.

Darlington is hosting two other events during the festival.

Teddy Bear Tales will be told at the Drinkfield Marsh local nature reserve on Wednesday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Fish Scales and Tall Tales will take place at the Brinkburn Pond local nature reserve between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday.

For information about events call (01325) 388648.