Cumbria's third Dark Skies festival's successful return saw hundreds of people attend activities and events spread all across the county.

A diverse lineup of events entertained the young and old, local residents and staying visitors alike.

Enjoyment of the dark environment and wildlife in woodlands and forests was popular, with events at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s reserves at Arnside and Staveley, Forest England’s Grizedale and Whinlatter forests, and a Loweswater walk for the Melbreak Community dark skies group, led by Friends of the Lake District patron John Macfarlane and National Trust ranger Mark Astley.

Festival participants also enjoyed canoeing in the dark, wood whittling and stargazing, and dark skies art workshops.

The events included a temporary art installation Intrastellar at Grizedale Forest tarn; a floating artwork of sensitively illuminated spheres on the mirrored surface of tarn, forming a spectacular interaction with the stars, which 100 people attended on the day, and a night time rockpooling event, using UV light in rockpools on the beach to see the active nighttime creatures, such as luminescent prawns, starfish, sea urchins and velvet swimming crabs.

Andrea Simpson, of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: "Our eyesight is poor in darkness compared to the many species of wildlife active at night.

"Enjoying the night-time environment involves an element of awe and respect for these creatures of the night.

"Fortunately many of our nature reserves are intrinsically dark places where wildlife is unaffected by light pollution, so what better places to explore with friends and family."