CHILDREN from three schools have been working hard to prepare their costumes for the Christmas Cairngorm Reindeer Parade.

Cancelled last year because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Prancer, Dancer and friends will be back in Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Organisers Bravura held arts workshops in Breckon Hill Primary School, Green Lane Primary School and Marton Grove School to help make outfits for the children.

While most of the costumes were made by Bravura, the children created the head-dresses.

Bex Mather, of the Sage Music Centre, Gateshead, provided music workshops for the children before they test their carol singing skills on the big day.

Children adorned as frosty Christmas trees will be leading the parade, followed by Santa Claus in the guise of BBC Radio Cleveland's Stewart McFarlane.

Youngsters will also be dressed as Christmas presents and crackers. There will also be decorated Christmas trees and stiltwalkers, the Stiltskins. The youngest participant, who is six years old, will be helping Santa.

As well as Christmas carols, children will perform a percussion piece for glockenspiel and bell that fifteen-year old Luke Elliot, of Stockton, has composed.

Starting at noon, the parade will set off from the Cleveland Shopping Centre near the town hall.

The parade will pass through the central section of the town and through Hill Street Shopping Centre, on to the Linthorpe Road Precinct.

After the parade, the reindeer can be visited in their pen in Captain Cook Square, and Victoria Park, where a children's fairground and ice rink will both be open.