Do you remember Hartlepool's summer of '˜88?

The bike race passes through Hartlepool town centre in 1988.

In just a few short weeks, we hosted three events which pulled in the crowds as well as some well known names.

It all started with an appearance in town of some of the best names in the cycling world.

Taking a closer look at a Model T Ford at Hartlepool show.

Ireland’s world champion Stephen Roche, Malcolm Elliott, Sean Yates, Sean Kelly and Joey McLoughlin were all in the field of the Kelloggs Tour of Britain race which passed through Hartlepool, Seaton and Stockton.

Huge crowds turned out for the event, which split the field when it reached a one-in-three nightmare climb at Roseberry.

The first 19 men were all within a minute of each other. Every other finisher was between seven and 27 minutes adrift.

Days later, the Radio One Road Show came to Seaton Carew and not even a downpour could deter the crowds on The Green, or the celebrities, from turning up.

Mike Read, Smiley Miley and the road crew all came to town and started the show off with a series of pranks.

It was the third of the roadshow visits to Seaton and in 1988, the roadshow had been touring different destinations along the North East coast. Were you there and what do you remember of those summer days at Seaton?

There was plenty of audience participation including Hartlepool girls Cheryl Robinson and Alison Gibbon who took centre stage.

They were invited by Smiley Miley to perform a perm on Mike Read’s head.

The Mail report at the time said: “This, along with bits and pieces and the usual Radio One competitions and games marked a great day for all the family on the Hartlepool coast.”

Other highlights of the day included an attempt by beauticians from Hartlepool to wax the hairs from Mike Read’s legs, and a performance on a rock guitar by eight-year-old Thomas McLoughlin.

The Mail’s report added: “Music blared, jokes were swapped and pranks practised as the day’s unpredictable weather sent jumpers flying one minute and brollies shooting up the next.”

But it was not just national events which pulled in people.

Hartlepool Show was “still alive and kicking” when it was held with great weather for the weekend.

There were parachute jumps, a military display, and a rope and pulley slide for those who were feeling brave. The Whirley Bird puppet show was a big hit with the children and the horticultural show was its usual popular attraction on its own.

Brass and military bands performed and there was non-stop music from the resident disc jockey Paul Gough.