A SPLASH of colour was brought to Barnard Castle this week, marking the start of its second annual banner festival.

The event, which was arranged by the non-profit making organisation Artworks, saw 38 banners - including a number from last year - go up around the town in time for the bank holiday.

In order to create new additions to the dazzling display professional artists Keith Alexander, Charlie Arnold, Nicola Balfour and Gillian Tallentire held workshops for primary school pupils at Staindrop, Bowes, Startforth and Cockfield to create designs on paper.

Other designs were produced at Teesdale Carers' Centre and the Bowes Museum after school art club, before all were transferred to a lightweight but durable material akin to parachute silk.

Mr Alexander said the latest designs, which carried on last year's theme of celebration, meant that the whole of the town had been covered, including two on the terrace flagpoles at the Bowes Museum. Artworks' aim for future years is to eventually produce enough to extend the festival throughout the dale.

Project co-ordinator Denise Alexander paid tribute to all who had helped in producing the banners, and to the local businesses who had agreed to fly them from their premises. The festival, which runs until next Saturday, has been supported by Teesdale District Council, Arts Council England and the Regional Arts Lottery.