Hundreds line streets for Hartlepool Headland Carnival Parade

Hundreds of people took to the streets on Saturday afternoon, as the parade set off from outside the Borough Hall and made its way through the surrounding area before returning to the starting point.

The roads were lined with families as the parade, led by a Coastguard rescue vehicle with its blue lights flashing, wound its way around the Headland.

There was music from bagpipe and drum bands, gymnastic entertainment from the Hartlepool Hawks cheerleading club, and a stunning selection of costumes as people really threw themselves into the event to mark the culmination of the week’s events.

Crowds were entertained throughout the day by a series of performances by young people from creative organisation Kyle’s Dream, culminating in an appearance by Hartlepool sisters Liv ‘N’ G.

“All the acts were aged between six and 25,” said spokesman Ian McManus.

“The crowd really enjoyed it.”

The parade was preceded by the traditional Nutty Slack Race, which saw a dozen hardy souls racing through the streets, carrying 25kg sacks of coal.

The run saw the competitors sprint the length of Durham Street before turning down Middlegate, passing the Borough Hall, and then turning right into Northgate, to finish at Gaiety’s bar.

First place was claimed by 23-year-old Aaron Dinnison, who was running as part of a group from the Hartlepool Boys Brigade Old Boys Rugby Club.

Team-mate Andrew Arnell had taken part in the race before, but Aaron was making his debut appearance.

“It is the first time I have done it but it won’t be the last,” he said.

“It’s a lot harder than I thought - I enjoyed it, though.”