A series of free interactive light events are set to 'light up' Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire this winter.

Presented by Appetite, the Light Up Winter events will take place in Middleport, Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme and will be free to attend without booking.

Light Up Winter, delivered in partnership with Middleport Matters, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Stoke Creates, will feature immersive light installations, projections and sound experiences created by internationally acclaimed artists.

Refreshments will also be available for visitors to purchase.

Circo Tree by Dan Fox and Sound Intervention will feature at Light Up Middleport (image via Hannah Hiles)

Appetite Interim Director Heather Dowler said: "Light Up Winter is about bringing people together during the darker months with free, joyful experiences for our communities.

"Each event offers something different, playful and fun to brighten the dark nights of winter."

The first event, Light Up Middleport, will be held in Middleport Park on 21 and 22 January from 4pm to 8pm.

It will feature illuminated boxes flashing in time with residents' heartbeats, flying fish made from recycled plastic bottles and a large interactive structure where visitors can create melodies and light patterns using simple hand movements.

Light Up Hanley will take place in Albion Square on 3 and 4 February from 5pm to 8pm.

Positive Spin by Invisible Wind Factory will feature at Light Up Hanley (image via Hannah Hiles)

This event will include a multi-sensory musical sculpture made up of more than 200 illuminated chime bars and a five-metre-high fortune-telling fruit machine, as well as a large-scale projection onto the Town Hall co-created with young people from Stoke-on-Trent College, YMCA, Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, Pinc College and artists Illuminos.

The series will conclude with Newcastle under Light outside the Guildhall on 4 March from 6pm to 9pm.

The final event will feature a projection celebrating local people and places, a forest-inspired installation exploring breath and breathing together, and giant inflatable creatures that respond to hugs and squeezes.

And…Breathe by Pif-Paf will feature at Newcastle under Light (image via Hannah Hiles)

Light Up Winter is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England's Creative People and Places programme.

The events have also received additional support from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Denise Coates Foundation and Middleport Matters.

British Sign Language tours will be available at each location and will need pre-booking by contacting [email protected].