DOZENS of competitors took to the stage as the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival got under way last night.

The first night of the festival opened at Huddersfield Town Hall with the Junior Music Theatre Class.

There were 38 young competitors from schools across the north all bidding to take the festival’s first award.

The Mrs Sunderland festival runs until February 23 and the coming days will see a total of 850 entrants competing in 130 classes.

It is the 119th festival and again organisers hope it will put Huddersfield firmly on the musical map.

Chairman Michael Hampshire said: “We hope the competitors will enjoy the experience of performing in this superb venue.”