COMMUNITY leaders are gearing up for an annual celebration.

The Communities Together event, involving residents from Pennywell, Ford and South Hylton, in Sunderland, will take place on June 22.

Since it started two years ago, it has become so popular that it is now a permanent fixture on the calendar.

Organiser Gladys Chilton said: "When we first decided to hold the event two years ago, we knew it would be a great success, but we only meant it to be a one-off.

"We never imagined we would get the response we did.

"We thought if we could do it once, why couldn't we do it again and make it a yearly event everyone in the community looked forward to."

This year's event will be the biggest so far, with an antiques fair, dog show, carnival float procession, fancy dress competition, stalls and activities.

Residents will be able to find out more about the area's regeneration programme and the day will end with an It's a Knockout competition and a Songs of Praise service at South Hylton's Claxheugh Rock.

Anyone interested in helping out on the day or wanting more information should contact Gladys Chilton on 0191-551 0297.