Tall ships set sail for sea race

The show animated some of Tyneside's landmarks

Tyneside is bidding bon voyage to the Tall Ships as they set off on the final leg of their race.

It follows a spectacular firework and light show on Wednesday night which was watched by thousands.

More than 100 ships were due to set out in full sail on Thursday. The Parade of Sail was led by three Royal Navy vessels to the river's mouth.

The fleet is due to line up under sail five miles out at sea later, for the start of the race to Norway.

Wednesday's show, called the Cresting of the Waves, animated some of Tyneside's best-known landmarks.

The 30-minute display saw landmarks such as the Tyne Bridge, Baltic arts centre and Sage Gateshead music centre be illuminated by pyrotechnics, film projections and laser lighting.

The Cresting the Waves show was a highlight of the Tall Ships' visit Enlarge Image

It also featured specially-commissioned music.

Many roads in North and South Tyneside will be closed throughout Thursday morning as thousands of people are expected to head to the coast.

The ships' visit to Tyneside has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.

This is the third time Tyneside has hosted the Tall Ships Race - they also visited in 1986 and 1993.

It is hoped the 2005 event will bring up to £50m into the region's economy.

Three thousand young people from more than 20 countries are taking part in the Tall Ships' Race.