A NORTH-East festival reached as far a field as New Zealand, the US and Europe after being forced to move online.

The Festival of Thrift, which usually attracts thousands to Kirkleatham near Redcar, is instead being staged on its website.

Analysis by the festival team of the latest element of the event – a day long live stream – found it attracted an audience from as far afield as New Zealand, Iowa in the US, Spain, The Netherlands and across the UK from the north of Scotland to Cornwall.

Thriftfest Live, which streamed on Saturday, September 12, offered a programme included activities, workshops, talks and demonstrations, as well as showing footage from a mini event put on by organisers for two streets in a secret location.

Director Stella Hall said: “People couldn’t visit the festival this year so we decided to bring the joyful spirit and thoughtful ethos of the event into people’s homes instead. We’re absolutely delighted that so many have joined us, and from such varied locations, and have been able to enjoy our unique festival.”

In August, an online programme was unveiled to enable festival-goers to re-create elements of the fun of the festival at home and thousands of ‘Thrift Your Place’ activity packs have since been downloaded via the newly designed Thriftfest Upcycled website.

Containing ideas to inspire all ages to get involved in creating, fixing, swapping and sharing at home, the packs include activities ranging from guides to cloud-spotting, releasing your inner dandy and creating wearable sculptures from household objects to making beautiful flowers from beach waste plastic and how to organise a swap shop in your street.

A series of inspiring discussions presented in partnership with Tees Valley Nature Partnership covered topics from green energy and food banks to listening to young voices about the future sustainability of our planet.

A virtual marketplace selling sustainable goods from selected independent traders, also up and running on the website, has attracted thousands of virtual visits by shoppers too.

The festival spirit continues online with a recording of the live stream available to view for a limited period as well as a range of online workshops – ranging from cooking with foraged food to making toys out of electronic waste - plus talks on a range of topical sustainability issues which are all still freely accessible to watch.

Ms Hall added: “The festival lives on - there’s still plenty to see and do, so log onto our website and join in!”

The Festival of Thrift’s digital edition for 2020, Thriftfest Upcycled, can be found at www.festivalofthrift.co.uk