The Queen's Baton Relay arrived in the streets of the North East on Thursday (July 14) - where hundreds came out to cheer through the batonbearers and celebrate the best of the region's community spirit and unsung heroes.

The event, which is now in its 16th year, coincided with the celebration of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Birmingham from Thursday, July 28 until Monday, August 8. 

Before the big sporting occasion, a relay has been making its way through the commonwealth countries, before arriving in England on July 4.  

Read more: Darlington on the Commonwealth Games baton relay

On Thursday, attention turned to the North East to show what they had to offer in terms of community spirit, sporting prowess and celebration.  

Beginning in Saltburn, batonbearers that had been selected for their contributions to the community, set off on small distances carrying the baton.

Making its way through Redcar, Middlesbrough, and Stockton-in-Tees, it arrived in Darlington to huge applause from the town's people and children from the local schools, before travelling to Durham, Seaham and Sunderland.

Here are some of the best images of the day:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Pictures: SARAH CALDECOTT, STUART BOULTON and STEVE CURTIS

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054