A FESTIVAL of art which combined poetry with Japanese drumming has been hailed a success by council chiefs.

The festival at the Timothy Hackworth Museum, in Shildon, was organised by Sedgefield Borough Council.

It featured displays of poetry by youngsters who had entered a competition on the council's Internet website.

Also on show were the Japanese drumming group Mugenkyo, who are touring the North-East.

The event and the poetry competition are part of the council's Breaking Down The Barriers project to make the arts accessible to everyone.

Nickie Gott, marketing coordinator at the council, said: "The whole thing went brilliantly. The standard was excellent and we were amazed by the number of entries."

The winning poems, judged by Hexham poet Linda France, were entered by Sara Newby, of Darlington, Jade McSorley, of Middlesbrough, and Alison Stacey-Chapman, of Middlesbrough. Each won a £50 book token