A STARGAZING festival is happening in North Pennines AONB later this month.

The fifth North Pennines Stargazing Festival runs from October 22 to October 31.

The festival includes activities for more experienced stargazers alongside events aimed at children and families.

It contains solar system walks, stargazing events and a range of exciting themed nights.

Alston Moor Golf Club hosts 'From the Moon to Infinity', an event run by local astronomer and astrophotographer, Gary Lintern, and former Chairman of Sunderland Astronomical Society, Michael Tweedy.

Shane Harris, Responsible Tourism Lead for the North Pennines AONB Partnership, said: “The festival went online last year and we hope that the return to ‘live’ events in 2021 will be welcomed.

"We have a wide range of events spread across the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark, appealing to local people and visitors to the area.

"The North Pennines is the darkest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is one of the best places in the UK to enjoy stargazing – the festival is designed to make it easy for people to celebrate the area’s fabulous starry skies.”