THE skies will be filled with all creatures great and small this weekend when kite enthusiasts celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

Tens of thousands of people will descend on the Northern Area Playing Fields, Washington, Wearside, to see a multitude of creations soaring into the air at the Sunderland International Kite Festival tomorrow and Sunday.

The biggest event of its kind in the country, kite-makers from all over the world will be putting on spectacular displays, flying everything from 12mm mini-kites to huge soaring dragons and dinosaurs.

As well as kite flying, there will be a blend of international music, street theatre, an arts and crafts fair and many activities for children.

Sunderland City Council kite consultant Malcolm Goodman said: "Kites 2000 celebrates the talents of experts from all over the world and will be a great weekend for all the family.

"There will be everything from giant Chinese dragon kites and a 130m-long Anglo-Japanese Friendship Kite, to power kiting, kite buggying and parachuting teddy bears.

"Specialist kite-fliers such as Ray Bethell, the world-famous multi kite-flier, will be putting on his breathtaking displays and we hope to attract a whole host of fresh talent."

Ha Yi Qi, from China, will be flying his exquisite silk butterfly and bird kites and - weather permitting - the Cody team will attempt to lift one of their members 100ft into the air.

Tom Vinken and his wife, Maria, from Holland, who are two of the world's experts at making miniature kites, will be sending up their creations, some only millimetres high, and Mikio Toki, from Japan, will display his 17th Century style Edo-kites.

One of the biggest art and craft fairs in the North of England will also be at the festival featuring work from people around with world.

The festival has been organised by the Sunderland City Council's department of education and community services, with funding from Northern Arts and the European Development Fund.