Thousands of people donned their winter warmers and waterproofs and took to the streets of Durham last night, for the launch of the Lumiere festival. Tony Kearney and Mark Summers joined them.

THERE were hats, scarves and tiny red torches all around as thousands of light bulbs flickered into action and – after weeks of waiting – Lumiere was officially under way.

Excited children, parents, grandparents, business people, students, shoppers and tourists buzzed around the historic city’s streets, bridges and footpaths, as installations by more than 50 artists were switched on for the first time, in the biggest light festival England has ever seen.

The artists, producers and organisers had done all they could. It was time for the people to give their verdict.

“I think it’s brilliant,”

enthused Margaret Wilsher, from Crook, in County Durham. “Wonderful.”

The 68-year-old had come with Valerie Spooner, 67, after the friends saw preparations being made during one of their regular walks along the banks of the River Wear.

“It’s so spectacular,” Mrs Spooner added.

Visitors were amazed by the installations around Palace Green, with an undoubted highlight being Crown of Light, which saw images from the Lindisfarne Gospels projected 100m across Durham Cathedral.

In the cathedral cloisters, families wandered awestruck through ghostly rows of illuminated “flowers”.

The North-East weather refused to abate for the evening, with the rain alternating between drizzle and downpour. But it failed to dampen the spirits of festival-goers keen to be whipped up in the magical atmosphere spreading across the city.

Simon Stallworthy, director of the Gala Theatre, said: “They’ve been putting something on our roof all day. Everybody’s talking about Lumiere. It’s really exciting. It’s all coming together.”

In the nave of Durham Cathedral, flashing orbs suspended high above spun to the sound of soothing music. Tom Barrett, a firstyear Durham University student, said: “It really is on an impressive scale. It was bigger than I had imagined it would be. I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen so far.”

Fellow student Jessica Holmes, originally from Liverpool – European Capital of Culture last year – said: “I really like it. They had some quite odd things in Liverpool and Capital of Culture improved the city dramatically. I’d encourage Durham to go for it."

David Buckle, from Sherburn Village, near Durham, brought his entire family – partner Kathryn and children Madeleine, 13, Alex, 12, and Josie, four.

He said: “We deliberately came here at the start to see the cathedral and it was wonderful.”

Alex Gibbs, from Newcastle, enjoyed Photon, which saw light beamed onto the paving of Silver Street.

“We like things like this and we think there should be more of it,” he said.

The Elvet Bridge area was another highlight, with pink and blue fluorescent tubes suspended high in the bare trees along the river bank, eerily lighting up the night sky.

■ Lumiere continues each night until Sunday.

Festival puts culture credentials in lights

LUMIERE will thrust Durham into the international spotlight, boosting the county’s confidence and its bid to be UK City of Culture 2013, cultural and political leaders said last night.

Simon Henig, Labour leader of Durham County Council, said the fourevening event would be one of the most spectacular seen in Durham for a long time.

“It’s going to be truly spectacular,”

he said. “Four very memorable evenings.

“It shows we can stage events which attract internationally- renowned artists to a spectacular location.

“This is Durham setting its stall out and saying: ‘We can do this’. It’s part of a real growth in cultural activities, with Enlightenment, the growing Brass festival and other festivals taking place, and we hope that will reach its peak in 2013.”

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, said Lumiere would be the biggest light festival ever seen in England and represented a big moment for Durham.

“It’s incredibly exciting. It will give Durham confidence to deliver events of this imagination and scale. Durham is going to be so proud of itself.

“I would say: it doesn’t matter what the weather or the temperature, get here however you can. Wrap up warm, wear waterproofs if it’s wet, but please: don’t miss it. People who see this will be talking about it with family and friends for a long, long time; and people who don’t, will really miss out.”

Paul Gudgin, creative consultant to Durham’s City of Culture bid, said: “It’s going to be absolutely stunning. It’s one of the biggest events ever seen in Durham and people are excited.

“But it’s just a glimpse of the potential of Durham as a festival and events city. It will show what can be achieved in a place as attractive as Durham when you bring in worldclass artists and creatives.

“It will temporarily transform local landmarks, so you see a familiar city in a different way. It will be like nothing ever seen anywhere else in the UK.”

Simon Stallworthy, director of the Gala Theatre, said: “There’s a real buzz out there You hear people talking about it, even if they don’t know quite what’s going to happen.

“There’s an energy and anticipation.

And imagine this over a whole year, with a whole sequence of events.

“It lifts everything. Normally, this would be a gloomy Thursday in November. But it’s exciting and there’s a feeling it’s all coming together.

“Hopefully, we’ll get national coverage and people in Southampton will see Durham Cathedral lit up with the Lindisfarne Gospels. It makes people think: this is a place with creative people, where creative things happen.

“With the City of Culture bid, this is just a taste of what could happen in years to come.

This is visual art, but it could easily be dance, drama or children’s theatre. It’s really exciting – it feels like Christmas out there.”

■ Post your Lumiere pictures on Durham’s City of Culture bid Facebook group.

■ Back the bid at: durham cityofculture.co.uk ■ Visit: lumieredurham.co.uk