HUNDREDS of comedy lovers turned out for Barnard Castle’s first comedy festival on Saturday (July 18).

Organised by the Funny Way to be Comedy Club, the festival featured top comedians who had travelled far and wide to be part of the show at The Witham.

The festival kicked off with Lee Kyle’s family friendly Gunge Show at noon which was quickly followed by the Lost Voice Guy, Tony Law and Jo Caulfield.

Mark Watson tested new material on the first evening audience at 6pm while Canadian comedian and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow star, Craig Campbell, performed for free before Alex Horne took to the stage with his Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show Monsieur Butterfly.

Festival Director, Peter Dixon, said 500 show tickets were sold.

“We were very pleased with our first ever comedy festival in Barnard castle,” he said.

“Everything gelled. The comedians were all on top form and the audiences responded enthusiastically.

“It was very exciting to have the calibre of acts at our small rural town. There was a point in the day when the dressing room was like an episode of Mock the week.”