IN PICTURES: Thousands attend Hartlepool festival

The free family festival included appearances by Cook and Line from CBeebies, X Factor and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here star Jake Quickenden, local dance and music acts and water-based activities.

Other attractions at the festival included an “Art Garden” which featured a range of self-led and hands-on arts activities and workshops.

Local artist Stuart Langley offered people a chance to make sea glass tea light holders, while Adrian Gray showed off his amazing talent for balancing large stones to create innovative sculptures.

Hundreds of people also watched open-air screenings of Disney’s iconic animated movie The Little Mermaid and cult classic Jaws, which was selected following a public vote.

The finale of the festival was an eye-catching aquatic light installation called The Whale.

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people from Hartlepool and further afield enjoying the festival and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic.”

Councillor Kevin Cranney, the Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, added: “We were keen to provide a free festival with something for all ages on the former Jackson’s Landing Site to highlight its potential to hold future events and it was great people came out in force to support the event.”