COLOURFUL: The Meet parade attracts a host of different entries for the annual event. This year, workshops are being held at The Hub, Shaw Bank, to help entrants prepare for this year’s parade on bank holiday Monday, May 28
COLOURFUL: The Meet parade attracts a host of different entries for the annual event. This year, workshops are being held at The Hub, Shaw Bank, to help entrants prepare for this year’s parade on bank holiday Monday, May 28

REVELLERS planning to take part in this year’s Barnard Castle Meet parade are being invited to free workshops to help them prepare their floats, models and costumes.

Those planning to enter groups or floats will receive expert guidance from artists who will help with ideas during the events at The Hub, along Shaw Bank, ahead of the parade, on Whit Monday, May 28.

The workshops have been made possible through cash from County Durham Community Foundation.

Funding is also available to help groups buy the items they need to create their costumes and designs.

The first workshop takes place on Saturday, April 21, during which ideas will be generated and lists of what people need will be drawn up. Lesley Taylor of the Meet committee said: “We will buy your resources ready for the next session.

“On Saturdays May 5, 12 and 19, you can work on your creations with the help and guidance from our artists.

“When they are finished they can either be stored at The Hub until you need them for the parade, or you can take them home with you.”

The workshops run from 10am to 1pm each Saturday.

To book a place, contact Mrs Taylor on 078130 01108 or email lesley.highriggs @gmail.com.

Mrs Taylor added: “To add to the fun, these workshops are open to all villages within Teesdale. It would be exciting if Teesdale villages and village schools were able to volunteer to enter a unique village float.”