TODAY marks last chance to soak up the entertainment being laid on by Worcester Festival.

The annual event comes to an end tonight, with a pig roast at the Fountains in Worcester's South Quay at 9pm, followed by a fireworks display at 10pm.

"We're almost at the end of the festival and have already seen more than 80,000 people attend our events and there's still plenty of things to do and see," said Chris Jaeger, director of the festival.

"There's free entertainment provided by the Sauce City Jazz Band, a pig roast, stunning candle-lit narrow boat procession and the spectacular fireworks finale.

"I recommend you get down there in plenty of time to pick a good spot and join in the celebration.

"We recommend that you watch the fireworks from the South Quay Fountains area."

But if fireworks and narrow boats aren't for you, there's even more entertainment from musicians, with the tribute act T.Rextasy due to perform at Huntingdon Hall at 7.15pm.

"Watching T.Rextasy in concert demands stamina, a good pair of bopping shoes and a healthy set of lungs to sing along to the rock-a-boogie songs that made Marc Bolan the leading force of Glam Rock," said a spokesman for the event.

"After the initial impact of T.Rextasy's stage presence and the uncanny resemblance to Marc Bolan in voice and looks of their lead guitarist and front man Danielz, you know that you're in for an evening's worth of Bolanic hits."

Also on at 7.15pm, this time at the Swan Theatre, is Joe Brown And The Bruvvers.

"Joe Brown is one of the country's best-loved and acclaimed musicians," said a spokeswoman.

"Joe will be playing, along with his Bruvvers back by demand. It's a two-hour musical celebration.

See pictures of the spectacular grand finale fireworks and find out how the festival concluded in tomorrow's Worcester news

Our glorious summer of dance fever

TAKE a one... take a two. Well, that's all the encouragement Worcester people seem to need these days when it comes to strutting their stuff.

We've all seen the crowds flooding on to the pitch after a football match. Now here's a

brand new phenomenon - the

stage invasion.

The good people of the Faithful City are not necessarily renowned for letting it all hang out. But they certainly broke with tradition on a night of choreographic fireworks that must have lit up the night sky over The Moors and quite possibly into outer space, too.

The Hoppers comprise three guys and three gals who take their dance very seriously indeed. Not for them the armchair approach - they've not only travelled the world, but also studied at the feet of the experts in America.

From 1920s Charleston to Louis Jordan's jump-jive of the 1950s, from stomps to soft-shoe shuffles, believe me, these cats are the business.

And of course, there's no business like it. For they understand that most of the audience don't just want to watch the action. They want to be part of it as well. And that's why when the offer came to join them on stage, there was a stampede of twinkle-toed wannabes.

Britain is going dance-mad these days. And this summer, Worcester seems to be thoroughly infected with the contagion. On they came, young and old.

This was a celebration of body and soul, courtesy of some truly fabulous performers who were falling over themselves to let us in on the secrets of that crazy thing called rhythm.