Darlington Community Carnival has announced that its nominated charity for this year will be Family Help.

The charity provides a confidential helpline for anyone experiencing domestic abuse and keeps women and children safe by providing secure accommodation in Darlington.

The carnival will be returning this June and plans are already underway.

Anna Caygill, service manager from Family Help, said: “We are very pleased to have been selected as the Carnival’s charity for this year. 

“We have been involved with the event for many years and always enjoy the community atmosphere. We look forward to seeing people at our stall on the day.”

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David French, carnival chair, said: “I’m very pleased that we are supporting Darlington Family Help this year. Their work is enormously important for our community.”

The theme of this year’s event is ‘Legends and Fairytales’ and community groups and schools have been working with artist Yvonne Preston to create an array of colourful costumes, sculptures and banners for the parade.

This year also marks the seventieth anniversary of the town twinning with Mulheim and Amiens and many groups are exploring international folklore themes.

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The annual carnival will take place on Saturday June 24. 

Activities begin in the Market Square at 10:00 am, followed by the carnival parade, which leaves the square at 11:30am, and works its way through the town to Stanhope Park where the carnival continues with stalls, music and other activities throughout the afternoon.