A SPECTACULAR light festival begins tonight.

Lumiere 2011 will be held in Durham City each night until Sunday.

Click here to view a map showing Lumiere installations, events and utilities

Thirty-five art installations can be viewed free, with most open from 6pm to 11pm.

Those around Durham Cathedral will be closed during evensong services.

The festival begins tonight at 6pm, with a one-off lantern parade.

About 200 schoolchildren will take part, walking from Millennium Place to Palace Green.

Last-minute preparations and tests were continuing across the city yesterday.

The event, which was commissioned by Durham County Council, is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and generate a major boost for the local economy.

For more information, visit lumiere durham.co.uk For a full report and pictures, see The Northern Echo tomorrow.