A NORTH-EAST farm is preparing to stage the first event in a free summer storytelling festival.

Tales From the Tees is a new festival that will take place between August 21 and 29 at venues across the Tees Valley.

The first event will be on Saturday, August 21, from 10am to 3pm, at Newham Grange Leisure Farm, in Middlesbrough, where there will be storytelling and entertainment for all the family. Free admission to the farm is included.

Tracy Farbridge, the assistant park manager at Newham Grange, said: "We are delighted that the farm is hosting the first event in this fantastic festival."

Organised by The Tees Forest, the festival is a partnership of the five Tees Valley local authorities - Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool and the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, backed by funding from the Arts Council.

Storytellers will tell tales for listeners in open air venues including community woodlands, countryside centres, schools, riversides and seaside locations.

Throughout the nine days, performers will be entertaining at 18 venues, mixing everything from storytelling and crafts to circus skills, drumming workshops, dance and theatre.

Event organiser Simon Blenkinsop, from the Tees Forest, said: "The event at Newham Grange promises to get the festival off to a great start."

Details of the events are available at www.teesforest.org.uk