Festival all Thai-d up.

THIS year's international folklore fiesta in Billingham closed with a fabulous whirl of colour and culture.

Hundreds of people turned out for the finale of the 45th Folklore Festival which has been hailed "one of the best ever".

The closing event included a farewell gala and procession featuring the City of Newcastle Pipe Band and Billingham Silver Band.

It also featured performances of the international groups from the Cook Islands, Peru, Russia, Slovakia, Thailand and Mongolia.

Among those spectating on Saturday was the Mayor of Stockton, Cllr Paul Kirton and his wife Mary.

"I've been very impressed, everything has been great," said Cllr Kirton.

"It always takes you by surprise - my favourite this year was the Cook Islands."

Joan Walters, 70, and Josie Stephens, 76, both from Billingham, both attend the gala performance each year.

"It's lovely to see all the different colourful shows," said Mrs Stephens.

Mrs Walters agreed, adding: "It's a great event for Billingham."

The event which sprang from ideas to bring the crowds into Billingham's new pedestrianised town centre in 1965, is the largest arts festival of its kind in Britain.

Joe Maloney hailed this year's as "one of the best ever".

"From all the comments we have received, I believe it was a wonderful festival," he said.

"We had a lot of exotic groups who were all so friendly and co-operative and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing."

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FIESTA: The finale of the Folklore Festival saw performances from the Thai group, left, as well as a colourful show from the Mongolian artist, below Go to gazettelive to see more pictures from the Festival