Main attraction; THOUSANDS AT BANK HOLIDAY EVENTS ACROSS THE NORTH EAST.

Byline: LINDA RICHARDS

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Bank Holiday attractions around the region.

Live music, cycling, skateboarding, and learning how to save the planet were among the activities lined up.

Popular BBC wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan launched South Tyneside's annual Enviro Fair yesterday, with tips and advice on climate change and renewable energy. Environmental organisations showed families how to play their part in combating global warming at the event in Bents Park, South Shields.

There were also free bike health checks, a craft market, farm animals, demonstrations of tree-climbing and aerial rescue techniques, plus live music from Urban Strawberry Lunch - using instruments made from junk.

On Saturday, the City Stadium and Ouseburn Community Centre, in Mowbray Street, Heaton, Newcastle, hosted a Summer Festival with skateboard ramps, a climbing wall, fairground rides, stilt walkers, a welly throwing competition, pony rides, clowns and face painting.

On the banks of the Tyne, The Sage Gateshead launched a CoMusica legal art wall with graffiti artists from around the country.

Visitors also had the chance to leave their own tag on the wall, knowing they won't get into trouble. More than 30 crews and artists displayed their skills during the CoMusica Summer Jam, including TTK, GMC and FIGs, both local collectives, Sketch City, Manchester; Rash, Leeds; Lyken, Scotland; MEF and KEM, Birmingham; Geko; Creative Ginger; Cloud Commission. Hip hop and breaks music also came from DJs in the CoMusica arch behind The Sage.

CAPTION(S):

TIME FOR FUN: Bailey Rees, 13, of Jesmond at the Sage graffiti workshop; right, Courtney Bell and brother Leslie with stiltwalkers at the Summer Festival in Heaton ADVICE: Michaela Strachan at the Enviro Festival in South Shields; right, Macey-Jade Hudson, five, on the climbing wall at the Summer Festival

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