RACEGOERS will be flocking to the seaside this weekend for The Northern Echo Family Fun Day at Redcar Races.

The entertainment includes performances by the National Festival Circus, a funfair, go-karts, Punch and Judy shows, face painting, a bouncy castle and the Carlsberg-Tetley dray horses.

Redcar Races manager John Gundill said: "Sunday will be a family day and with all the entertainment going on we are giving it a real carnival atmosphere.

"The aim is to attract first-time race-goers, who we hope will enjoy themselves and come back again to future meetings."

The racecourse gates open at 11am and racing begins at 2.40pm.

The feature race is The Tote Credit Club Nursery Stakes, a £12,000 showcase handicap for two-year-olds over six furlongs.

The Sunday meeting also features the East Cleveland Advertiser Handicap Stakes, a contest for three-year-olds over one mile, named after The Northern Echo's free sister paper.

A family ticket into the course enclosure, for two adults and accompanying children under 16, can be purchased on Sunday for only £5. For details, call (01642) 484068.

Redcar also stages racing tomorrow, starting at 2.10pm, with the principal race being The Tetley's Imperial Ale Related Stakes, a handicap contest over the straight mile, which has received a boost in prize money.

There will also be a variety of family attractions in the course enclosure on Saturday, while Irish and jazz bands will entertain racegoers on both days.