SPECTATORS from all over the world will be able to watch the Stockton International Riverside Festival from their homes.

A live webcast of the event is being run for the second year at an Internet radio studio, from where Radio Riverside will webcast all of the acts performing at the fringe festival until Sunday.

The station, which is based at the Green Dragon Yard, off Stockton High Street, will be broadcasting interviews with performers and audience members.

A video booth has been set up in the Georgian Theatre next door, where people can record a short piece about their experiences of the festival to a webcam.

Steve Thompson, the University of Teesside's community media co-ordinator said: "The Riverside Festival webcast last year was so popular with those taking part that we extended our activities to include regular Monday webcasts featuring Tees Valley music, news and interviews, as well as special event webcasts like Middlesbrough Music Live and The Mela from Albert Park.

"We are all delighted to be back at the Stockton Riverside Festival where it all began."

The webcast will be managed by volunteers from local community groups and media students from the university and Cleveland College of Art and Design.

It can be viewed at www.radioriverside.co.uk

Visitors to the festival can also see an octorama, which features eight large screens, and there will be four exhibitions on each day of the festival.