By Georgia! We've got our visas.

It was a case of better late than never for a folklore festival group travelling from Georgia.

The group Sakartvelo travelled from Tbilisi, for the 39th Billingham International Folklore Festival.

Their arrival came after a mix-up with visas that left festival organisers fearing the group may not make it in time. It was quick action by officials at the British Embassy in Tbilisi, in the former Soviet republic, which ensured the group could take part.

The mix-up occurred when the 35-strong group - best known for performing the Simdi, a Georgian wedding dance - missed a deadline to submit visa applications.

Festival director Joe Maloney made a frantic call to the British Embassy in Tbilisi and was told the group should have applied for visas by the end of June, but a mix-up had delayed their application.

"I spoke to the deputy ambassador at the Embassy, who said they would look into it," said Mr Maloney.

"He was back on the phone within 20 minutes to say they had not received the documents to do with the visas."

A frantic call from festival organisers to the Georgian group was then made, urging them to ensure the visa applications were submitted.

"The Embassy then pulled out all the stops to ensure the group received their visas, which were cleared within 24 hours," said Mr Maloney.

"It meant the Georgians arrived a day later than expected, but we appreciate the embassy staff's help."

Among performances that can be seen by the Georgian group were to be appearances in Billingham town centre at 2pm today and 2pm on Thursday.