THOUSANDS of awe-struck visitors swarmed through Durham City last night, as the spectacular Lumiere light festival got under way.

The city’s streets were full to bursting as huge crowds toured 35 art installations, stopping to marvel at major attractions including Peter Lewis’ huge Splash waterfall from Kingsgate Bridge and Compagnie Carabosse’s enchanting Spirit fireball, inside Durham Cathedral.

The much-anticipated festival began with a River of Light parade, as 200 children, waving home-made fish lanterns, were led to the cathedral by a huge illuminated heron.

Eleven-year-old Lauren Burgess, from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, said: “It’s amazing.

It’s fantastic.”

Her mother, Susan Burgess, said: “It’s great. It brings people together.

It’s a great social outing.”

Students peered out from upstairs windows, drinkers observed from the Shakespeare Tavern, and it seemed every shop and café was staying open late.

Margaret Hodgkinson, from The Coffee House, said: “We’re doing very good trade. It’s lovely to see all the children involved.

It’s a great thing for Durham.”

Hundreds stood and admired Jacques Rival’s huge I Love Durham snowdome, over the Lord Londonderry statue, in Durham Market Place.

Katie-Jane Wallace, 12, from Washington, Wearside, said: “All the lights are amazing. I particularly like the snowdome.”

Laura Lynch, 31, from Sunderland, said: “I love the idea of the statue in a model. It’s fantastic to see something different.”

There was a welcome return for Ross Ashton’s Crown of Light, first seen at Lumiere 2009, which involves huge images from the Lindisfarne Gospels projected onto the Cathedral. Tracey Emin’s neon piece Be Faithful To Your Dreams was to be discovered in a near-forgotten graveyard and there were artworks across the peninsula, Elvet, Walkergate and Wharton Park.

Watching as Prebends Bridge was lit up like a rainbow, Anthony Logan, 29, of Houghton-le- Spring, Wearside, said: “It’s impressive.

I’ve just been to the Baltic for the Turner Prize and we hadn’t been last time so we made a point of not missing it.”

Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council – which commissioned the festival – said: “It’s fantastic. We know Durham is a special place. It’s wonderful to see so many people on the streets of Durham.”

Nicky Webb, from producers Artichoke, said the city was very busy and staging the festival was a very complex operation but she was delighted with visitor numbers and very pleased with how it was going.

Lumiere runs every night until Sunday. All fixed installations can be viewed free from 6pm to 11pm, except those around the cathedral, which are closed during Evensong services.

For more information, visit lumieredurham.co.uk 􀁧 For a four-page supplement with more pictures, see The Northern Echo on Monday.