A NORTHUMBERLAND village will host its own festival this weekend to celebrate life along Hadrian's Wall.

This year marks the 1900th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Hadrian's Wall, and on Saturday (September 3), a variety of activities, talks and exhibitions will be on offer.

A Makers' Market with around 20 stalls selling crafts, art and jewellery will be held at the Knott Memorial Hall, and outside, there will be a hog roast ran by Scott’s Catering.

At St Andrew's Church, there will be a free children's wildlife on the wall mask-making workshop and a history talk. Two choirs will perform, and refreshments will be on offer.

The church will also host an art exhibition by Tyne Valley Artists from Saturday until Sunday, September 18.

At the WI Hall, Heddon Art Group will also host an exhibition, while there will be a photography display at the Methodist Chapel.

The Swan pub will host several workshops, including wreath making, fused glass and origami.

And on the Welfare Field, there will be a fun dog show at 11am, which will include a fancy dress competition.

Over the past year, English Heritage have been creating a team of Maintenance Volunteers to help de-moss and de-veg the consolidated stretch of Hadrian’s Wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall.

On Saturday, people will be able to 'give it a go' during their taster session.

A writing competition - every story needed to include a wall - was also recently held in the village.

The festival's organisers hope the day will help promote Heddon and its businesses, raise funds for HETT (Heddon Education and Training Trust), St. Andrew’s Church and the Methodist Chapel, and help restart some of the interest groups in the village following Covid closures.

Revd Rachel Scheffer, Priest in Charge of Heddon-on-the-Wall, said: "People are really excited. It started off as just a seed of an idea back in the spring.

"All the creative people of the village have come up with one idea after the other, and we've literally created a festival.

"There's something genuinely for everybody."

The festival takes place from 10am until 4pm.

For more information, visit the festival's event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Heddon1900