A COLOURFUL parade involving hundreds of youngsters in vivid costumes marked the start of one of the region's biggest summer festivals.

Giant sea horses, fish and seagulls surfaced for the carnival procession around the Historic Quay as the Hartlepool Maritime Festival got under way on Saturday.

More than 1,000 pupils from primary and secondary schools dressed up in costumes they had made to mark the historic event.

A spokeswoman for the festival said: "It was fantastic. So many people turned up to see the procession and there was a really good carnival atmosphere.

"The weather wasn't too good on Saturday, but people still came along to see what was on offer."

The festival, to mark Hartlepool's links with the sea, was funded in part by a £40,000 grant from the Millennium Commission.

Among the many attractions were stand-up comedians, exhibitions, a fireworks display, a giant funfair and a re-enactment of life aboard HMS Trincomalee, a frigate which was launched in 1817. Crowds of people visited the quayside during the two-day event which was the biggest community event ever held in the town.