THIS year's Worcester Festival went out with a bang as fireworks lit up the sky last night.

After two weeks of fun, the festival drew to a close with a display of fireworks, seen best from Worcester's South Quay, and a collection in aid of St Richard's Hospice.

The festival opened on Saturday, August 15 with performances from brass band Gugge 2000 and the local Rock Choir outside Worcester's Guildhall.

Since then people have been able to take part in workshops, view exhibitions, join in with tournaments, hunt on treasure trails, watch theatrical performances, tour the cathedral's library and more.

The festival first started back in 2002 and has grown over the years into an extravaganza which attracts people from all over the region.

Last year's festival saw around 250,000 join in with events across the two weeks, and this year's event is expected to top that.

The festival's artistic director, Chris Jaeger, said: “This year’s Worcester Festival has been fantastic. Many of the events have been really well supported, and there have been lots of interesting new things this year. It really makes the city buzz."

Mr Jaeger said surprise musical shows have ranked among his favourite moments.

He said: "Highlights for me have been the three bands performing on the High Street on each of the three Saturdays and the Rock Choir’s flash mob, which saw 140 people spring out of nowhere, bursting into song, amazing crowds of shoppers and passers-by.

Other highlights for me include the fantastic array of events at the Cathedral, the Murder Mystery at the Commandery, and, of course, the spectacular Festival Fireworks. As usual, most of the events were free, and there was a genuinely wide and varied choice of events on offer. Now all that's left to say is, roll on 2016!”