AN exotic peacock, colourful caterpillar and tentacled octopus were some of the creations to light the streets during a Lumiere-style lantern parade.

RT Projects, a community arts project which works to improve people’s mental health, organised the lantern festival, which took place in Durham on Saturday.

As darkness descended, the streets of Gilesgate were filled with the light from more than 50 lanterns, in all shapes and sizes.

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Led by the musicians playing samba music, the parade of all sorts of creations, from fish and sailing boats, to houses, birds, a caterpillar, octopus and even a peacock travelled from the Durham City Retail Park, along Sherburn Road and back to the RT Project’s base in Mill House Court.

It was the culmination of several weeks worth of lantern making workshops.

Project leader Emma Beattie said: “It’s possible to make a lantern in about an hour but most people have been really creative. Some of the things they have made are amazing.

“We didn’t have a theme - we have just let people do whatever floats their boats, which is what we are about. We let people do what they want.

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“What links them is it’s all light and it will raise awareness about mental health issues.”

The parade was led by Runaway Samba, from Crook-based Jack Drum Arts and the event was funded by the County Durham Community Fund and Edible Gilesgate.

It involved groups from St Hild’s Primary School, St Joseph’s Church, Laurel Avenue Community Association’s youth group and some of the people who attend sessions at RT Projects.

The organisation runs a number of projects and art-based workshops which are aimed at helping improve people’s mental health through creativity.

Ms Beattie added: “All of our projects are about improving mental health and this is part of that.

“It’s about community cohesion and getting a lot of people together.

“It’s been really successful. This is the second time we’ve had a lantern parade and it’s getting bigger and better.”

At the end of the parade, participants enjoyed homemade soup and fresh bread.

Hannah Murray Leslie, from Food Durham, which runs the Edible Gilesgate project, said: “I think people really liked being out in the street, making a show. That’s not something that happens a lot in this area.

“It’s a fantastic mix of people.”

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One of the lanterns took the form of a colourful caterpillar

She added: “It’s all about health and wellbeing. We don’t just want to narrowly look at food projects, it’s about community and environmental sustainabilty as well.”

One woman, who has been going to workshops at RT Projects since 2016 and made one of the lanterns, said: “It’s been a lifeline for me.

“I’ve been coming for a few years and it’s been a godsend. Before I was stuck in the house. I was suicidal.

“If I hadn’t had this place I might have done something stupid.

“I think it’s brilliant what they’ve done to bring the community together.”