ORGANISERS have hailed the Worcester Festival as a resounding success as two week’s of events and activities came to a close.

Crowds gathered along Worcester’s South Quay for the city’s largest and most spectacular fire work display this evening signing off the 11th Worcester Festival with a bang.

The festival has been in full swing over the past fortnight with 250,000 people enjoying more than 345 events and activities for all ages in all corners of the Faithful City.

This year a selection of exhibitions gave a different view of the Cathedral along with an insight into the city’s past and ancient Egypt.

Visitors also enjoyed hands on workshops and tours along with the artists’ market which has been held over the last three Sundays at South Quay.

Artistic director Ben Humphrey said this year’s event had been a real success.

“It’s been excellent, we’ve had a really positive response this year,” he said. “There’s been a really good positive response about having some of the old favourites in it such as the Gugge Band which marched down the High Street. It was absolutely rammed with people.

“We had a really good response to the new ones we’ve had like the Swan Theatre village fete, that went really well.

“It’s been an absolute blast. I think the murder mystery in the Commandery was fantastic. It was a really nice, fun event to be a part of.

“The programme the cathedral entered was stunningly brilliant. They really had some amazing things in their programme.

“We’ve had so many people contribute to the festival, it’s been an absolute ball.”

Over the two weeks, the festival boasted hundreds of free events for youngsters to take part in, including a teddy bears picnic on College Green along with a range of live music from up-and-coming folk bands to exotic burlesque.

“For me it’s been the most fun one this year,” added Mr Humphrey. “In terms of the number of events being put on by external people, the quality of the programme and the sheer breadth of events put on I think from that point of view it has been the best ever.”