This year's Headland Heritage Festival was as popular as ever, with an estimated three and a half thousand people attending.

Highlights this year included Morris dancing, folk groups, First and Second World War memorabilia and the English Martyrs School Band.

The event, the fourth of its kind, was organised by the Headland Local History Group with events held in the Borough Hall and Town Square.

The day-long event was sponsored by Hartlepool Borough Council.
Other backers included Hartlepool Voluntary Development Agency, Headland Parish Council, PD Ports, Headland NAP, Heerema and Huntsman Tioxide.

Group member David Geen said: "It went brilliantly well. Everybody just enjoyed themselves. People sat on the grass watching and it was just the sort of atmosphere and conditions that you dream about.

"This was our fourth year and each year has been more successful than the last.

"Last year we did a sample survey of visitors to see what they wanted and it appears to have paid off."

Mr Geen said one of the highlights was when Val Wood, a member of the Victorian Society, appeared dressed in Victorian garb.

Mr Geen said: "She arrived in this lovely white carriage and that went down well. We had excellent dancers and they are always very popular."

"There was also the chance to see traditional Punch and Judy shows and see local schools perform."

There was also bouncy castles, a coconut shy, drills by the sea cadets, music and dancing.