A COMMUNITY turned out in force at the weekend to celebrate a festival that is nearly 1,000 years old.

The Houghton Feast, which has been held since the early 1100s in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, began on Friday.

It was launched with a spectacular switch-on of the town's illuminations and St Michael and All Angels' Church formed the centrepiece of the light show.

On Saturday, the annual carnival parade, featuring vintage cars, floats, marching bands and steam traction engines, made its way through the town.

Houghton Library staff decorated their float as HMS Houghton, in keeping with a Trafalgar theme.

The float, decorated as the front of a ship, came complete with waves, cannons and a mast.

The parade included the display of three mining banners, including those of Houghton and Lambton.

The traditional roasting of the ox will be held at the Rectory Field from 4pm today.

A fireworks spectacular will be staged by the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, in the Durham Road playing fields at 7.30pm tonight.

The show will continue through the week, culminating in a horticultural show next weekend.

For further information, or to obtain a full list of events, visit the council's website at www.sunderland.gov.uk/houghtonfeast