VILLAGERS turned out in force for an exhibition of photographs which rekindled memories of past carnival days.

More than 300 people viewed A Decade of Carnivals, which featured more than 800 images of Middleton-in-Teesdale's annual festival taken between 1979 and 1988.

The photographs were all snapped by farmer John Wilkinson, from nearby Lonton, and were put on show at the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services office in Chapel Row, Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The exhibition was due to run for just one weekend, but such was its popularity, the photos were keep on display for the following week to allow more people to see them.

Emma Spry, who helped to set up the exhibition, said: “John attended on both Saturday and Sunday and was very pleased to see his long forgotten photographs being enjoyed by so many people.”