Festival of Thrift 'a resounding success'

Record numbers of visitors enjoyed this year’s National Festival of Thrift at Kirkleatham, near Redcar.

More than 45,000 people attended the UK’s national celebration of sustainability as the award-winning event celebrated its fifth year.

Across the site’s ten zones, audiences enjoyed acrobatic street theatre, dancing and music, performances inspired by green issues and planting and growing, artwork from regional artists, hands-on fun with craft activities as well as an unforgettable and magical open air theatre bus through the streets of Redcar.

People spent the weekend taking part in a huge variety of activities including tucking into a giant community meal in the walled garden, making noisy toys from old computer parts, creating a bag from an old t-shirt, and den making.

In addition, more than 130 stalls selling up-cycled products and locally sourced goods from regional entrepreneurial small businesses did a roaring trade with visitors.