Festival hopes to attract 200,000

Organisers of one of Tyneside's biggest festivals are hoping up to 200,000 people will attend.

The two-day Mouth of the Tyne festival begins on Saturday and features a concert by chart-toppers The Script, a pageant boasting hundreds of children.

The event, organised by North Tyneside and South Tyneside councils, will also boast a street parade featuring a 30ft-tall (9m) animatronic insect.

It is hoped the event will not be hit by the closure of the Tyne Tunnel.

Pete Warne, North Tyneside Council's tourism and events development manager, said: "This is the fifth Mouth of the Tyne festival and it's now grown into one of the region's biggest events.

"I'm sure everyone who attends will have a great time."

The Tyne Tunnel will be closed throughout the weekend, however organisers are confident it will not have a major impact on the festival.

Anyone driving to the festival sites has been advised to use the Tyne Bridge and A1, allowing extra journey time.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Mouth of the Tyne
North Tyneside Council
South Tyneside Council
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites