THE largest light festival in the country drew to a close last night after welcoming around 200,000 visitors to a North-East city.

Durham Lumiere, which featured 29 impressive installations, in and around the city, started on Thursday and has had tens of thousands of visitors each night.

Helen Marriage, chief executive of Artichoke, said this, the fifth, has been her favourite so far.

She said: “Part of the joy of programming this festival is thinking about ways to keep it fresh and new each time, and I think we really have achieved that.

“Of course some pieces appealed to some more than others, but with 29 separate installations, I think Lumiere offered something for everyone.”

Highlights of the festival included Methods, a sound and light installation at Durham Cathedral, inspired by bellringing, a “fire tornado” at the partially cleared demolition site at Milburngate House, an exploration of the origins of the universe, projected onto the side of the new Durham University physics building in South Road and a collection of recreations of the region’s most iconic buildings, at Durham railway station.

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, said: “Lumiere has once again offered us the chance to showcase our beautiful city, our unique history and heritage and our wonderful people on a world stage.”