TEESDALE is brimming with colour as part of an annual festival.

The sixth Teesdale Banner Festival started on Saturday and features about 40 flags at some of the dale's top attractions.

The streets around Barnard Castle have the largest concentration, with a new addition on Witham Hall, in the Market Place.

The flag shows images depicting some of the groups who use the hall, such as a ballet class and craft group.

Gillian Tallentire, one of the organisers of the festival, said: "We got the youth drama group involved with the design of the banner at the Witham Hall. We thought it was a great position to have a banner."

There are flags at the Bowes Museum and a row of banners in the grounds of Eggleston Hall, near Barnard Castle.

"It would be great to get even more schools and groups involved next year," said Mrs Tallentire.

The festival is on until September 10. Groups interested in making a banner for next year's festival can call Mrs Tallentire on 01833-628270.