A North East seaside resort is preparing for an influx of visitors, with thousands expected over the next few weeks.
The South Tyneside Festival, which is running until the end of August, attracted more than 150,000 people in 2014 – the majority of which travelled to South Shields in July.
This year, event organisers South Tyneside Council are anticipating even greater numbers, with a spectacular Alice in Wonderland themed parade on Saturday July 4, as well as four, high profile concerts taking place next month.
This includes headline performances by 5ive and Atomic Kitten (July 12), Billy Ocean (July 19), Sophie Ellis Bextor and The Feeling (July 26) and North East stars Collabro, Joe McElderry and Lola Saunders (August 2) in Bents Park.
The park will open to the public at around 1pm on each of the Sunday concert days, with the gates being unlocked in sequence, starting with Sea Road and Beach Road, to help control the flow of the crowd.
Spectators for the prior Summer Parade, which also starts at 1pm, are being advised to arrive early and asked to spread out along the entire route from the Town Hall to Bents Park.
Parking will be available on all five days at numerous sites in South Shields town centre and along South Shields seafront, with additional overspill spaces being created on the dragon football fields, approximately 200m from Bents Park.
Further information about parking in South Tyneside is available at www.southtyneside.info/parking
The park is also easily accessible by public transport, with the South Shields Ferry Terminal and Metro/bus station both just a 20 minute walk away.
Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, said: “We are expecting tens of thousands of people to visit South Shields in the coming weeks, particularly for the Summer Parade and Sunday Concerts.
“To cope with this increased demand on parking and public transport, we are asking people to plan their journeys and allow themselves plenty of time to get here.”
Further information for visitors attending the Sunday Concerts is available at www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk, which also features full listings for the entire South Tyneside Festival programme of events, activities and entertainment.
More details can also be found by searching South Tyneside Events on Facebook, following STynesideEvents on Twitter or calling the South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre on 0191 424 7788.