A FAMILY fun day was held to welcome visitors from overseas celebrate the east Durham coast.

The Low Tide Day celebration at Seaham Hall beach on Saturday featured a range of activities as well as school children and members of Chester-le-Street Civic Choir and The Coastal Community Choir singing a song specially written for the occasion.

Back to the Sea was accompanied by Pete Phillips on drums and composed by Steve Percival at the suggestion of the Water and Air Association of Porvoo, Finland. It is an organisation facing many similar issues to the Durham Heritage Coast and a partnership has developed between the two.

Singing is embedded in the culture of Finland and the Durham Heritage Coast team was surprised to find they even begin meetings with a song.

Niall Benson, Durham Heritage Coast officer, said: “The ideas and experiences we’ve been able to share with our Finnish colleagues have been extremely helpful.

“Despite different weather and geography, they face very similar issues to us in terms of environment, water, heritage and visitor management. It’s been hugely positive learning from them and hopefully they feel the same way about us.

“We had already planned a summer community celebration of the coast and then our friends in Finland suggested a song would be a wonderful addition to the day and they weren’t wrong.”