FIVE days of celebrations began in the North-East yesterday to mark the opening of a new Hindu temple made from the same materials as the Taj Mahal.

The Murtisathapna ceremony began with a procession to Redcar seafront, in east Cleveland, and saw dignitaries invited from all over Teesside.

The temple, inside the Hindu Cultural Centre, in North Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, was made using marble from the same quarry that supplied the stone for the Taj Mahal.

Earlier this year, a team of four Indian masons came to the town to start work on the £150,000 temple.

The marble pillars, tiles and statues were brought from the Chosira Mine, in India's central Rajasthan region.

Parts of it weigh up to two tonnes, with the entire shipment arriving in 76 boxes last October.

Yesterday, two police cars and two police motorbikes led the colourful procession, known as the Jal Yatra - a water journey - to Redcar's beach.

Ceremonies then continued back at the temple.

Youngsters also took part along with members of the Christian clergy.

The celebrations will continue every day until Sunday.

Throughout the event, invited guests will include the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, David McLuckie.

President of the centre, Krishan Nath, said a host of dignitaries were expected to attend the ceremonies, including Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar, Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.

The plan for the temple began about two years ago. The centre's previous temple was made from wood.

Mr Nath said: "We thought we would make the temple in the same way as traditional ones in India, which are marble.

"The priest and I appealed to the congregation to buy one square metre of marble each, which cost £120. One family bought one metre, then another would buy two metres and then someone else would buy three metres. It just went from there.

"We would like to thank all the members who have contributed so generously."