SHOPPERS mingled with tourists to make Durham a bustling city during its summer festival weekend.

Yesterday's warm weather helped to boost the numbers visiting the city, taking in an array of entertainment, music and historical spectacle.

A falconer with his birds of prey provided much interest on Palace Green, while the living history displays of several Medieval and Anglo-Saxon re-enactment groups fascinated visitors.

A new venue for this year's festival was Millennium Place, outside the Gala Theatre.

It provided a setting for most of the music and dance, including Korean "worship" dancers, gospel singers from Georgia, in the US, a jazz ensemble, and the traditional brass of North-East bands.

City centre manager Chris Rawlinson said: "I was amazed at just how many people were still here late into the afternoon, making the most of the sunshine.

"There was something for everyone and it's been an excellent weekend.

"It's difficult to guess how many more people were here, but it was a lot more than an average weekend.

"The historical groups say they've never known so much interest. People kept going up and asking them questions all the time, and in so many foreign accents."

There is plenty to attract visitors to Durham in coming weeks, with the Miners' Gala on Saturday and a jazz and mini motor show weekend in the Market Place on July 20 and 21.