A NORTH-EAST town centre will be awash with colour when one of the biggest events in its calendar gets under way tomorrow.

The 39th Billingham International Folklore Festival takes place for a week and is expected to attract thousands of people to the town.

Groups from Mexico, Spain, Russia, Slovenia and Peru will be taking part.

The festival is based in a specially-built arena in Billingham town centre and the Forum Theatre.

Harry Davies, chairman of the festival, said: "In the past, the event has attracted lots of people to the town and is something of a tradition.

"There are lots of really good groups and we can't wait for it all to start."

The festival has grown since its early days in the 1960s when the then Billingham Urban District Council organised entertainment in the newly-pedestrianised town centre to attract shoppers.

Mr Davies said: "The festival has gone from strength to strength and usually plays to packed audiences. We are expecting much of the same this year."

The event starts at 1.45pm with the annual parade from the Telstar, in Marsh House Avenue, to the town centre arena. This will be followed at 2.30pm by the opening ceremony and concert, tickets for which cost £4.50 for adults and £2.50 for children and OAPs. The parade is free.

The booking office can be contacted on (01642) 552663.