THE seaside came to the town centre during the weekend, with tons of sand brought in to create a temporary beach 20 miles inland.

Deckchairs, sandcastles and ice cream sellers completed the seaside look, as hundreds of people enjoyed the Bank Holiday sun.

The Darlington by the Sea event was part of the Orange Darlington Festival, which continues today.

As well as fun in the sand, there were pavement artists, street theatre acts and entertainers around the town, all providing their talents free of charge.

People from across the region flocked to Darlington to see the performers and to take advantage of the free hair-braiding and henna tatooists working around the town.

Leader of Darlington Borough Council John Williams said: "The Orange festival has gone from strength to strength over the years.

"Orange are delighted to support the festival and to put something back into the community in which their staff and their families live."

Yesterday's events ended with a fireworks display and a show by Incandescence, a dance and circus troop which entertains on stilts.

Today, the last events take place, with the final of the talent competition.

Amateur performers have been given the opportunity over the past three days to impress a panel of judges and today the best of the bunch will perform again, with the winners getting Orange goody bags.

There will also be a chance to hear the Abba tribute band Voulez Vous.

The festival was coordinated by Darlington council and sponsored by Orange and The Northern Echo