CHILDREN and young people enjoyed a colourful spectacle of music and dance yesterday at the 38th Billingham International Folklore Festival.

The festival invited youngsters along for free to the event's official youth day, when performers from around the world pulled out all the stops to entertain.

Festival-goers were treated to a morning show staged by dancers from the Czech Republic, before trying out some of the moves themselves. In the afternoon, a youth concert was held featuring dances with puppets and mask characters from Nepal, Norway, Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

Festival worker Brian Lightfoot said: "It was packed and the kids all seemed to have a great day."

The festival runs until Saturday. For ticket information call, (01642) 552663.