BURY'S Streets Ahead Festival has been hailed an unqualified success.

The May Bank Holiday event attracted a crowd of around 13,000 to the town centre, eager to enjoy the entertainment and blazing sunshine.

In a new report, Mr Harold Williams, Bury's chief education officer, said: "The festival appears to be welcomed by traders and residents alike as a free, inclusive, economically beneficial and hugely enjoyable family event."

Acts included Belgium's Circus Ronaldo and drama group Aksident, a riot of fairy tale characters by the French Utopium Theatre, alongside homegrown talents such as Bury's samba band Zambura, dancers and dozens of young "aliens" from Bury Art Project. Kay Gardens was the venue for the One World Village organised by Bury Youth Project. Families, young people and adults tried out circus skills, helped with a community mosaic, joined in a drumming workshop and disguised themselves with face paints.

Traders were every bit as enthused by the event as the general public.

Town centre businesses, many of which had never previously opened on a Bank Holiday, reported a busy day with extra staff being brought in specially for the event.

And 30,000 people visited the Mill Gate Centre, an increase of four per-cent on last year's festival.

It is the third year that Bury has taken part in the event, which is managed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.

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