ORGANISERS of the Ledbury Poetry Festival have looked back on a highly successful festival just gone, while looking forward to 2017, the year when they say the internationally famous literary attraction will really "come of age".

This year was the second best festival in terms of ticket sales with around 5000 sold, compared with the all time record of about 7000 tickets sold, in 2015.

This year the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary, but next year will go one better still, of course.

The festival's artistic director, Chloe Garner said: "The festival comes of age, at 21. We hope to make a real spectacle on the streets to celebrate and festival that will be truly magical and memorable for the whole town; and we will also aim to strengthen the international focus of the festival. Roll on 2017."

Ms Garner said of this year's festival: "The festival was a success and the response from audiences has been very positive. We hit our targets in terms of ticket sales with nearly 5000 tickets sold and lots of people who attended free events. Personally I thought there was a great atmosphere in the town. For me, a highlight of the festival was " Phizzwhizzing Fun in the Walled Garden"; - the garden was full all day on Saturday July 2, with lots of children following the trail to find all the amazing objects such as the giant peach and the Wonka bar with the golden ticket. Lots of dreams were hung on the dream tree, new words were invented and children danced around the roses in their dream shoes. It was a a truly magical day and thankfully the sun shone."

Ms Garner added: "Versopolis event celebrating European poetry; there was a very special atmosphere despite the current climate and the recent referendum results. The hall was almost full as people gathered to hear poets from all over Europe performing together; and our anthology, Hwaet! - What a special way to launch the Festival; in the end over 17 poets read their poems from the Festival anthology. This was a lovely opportunity to hear different kinds of poets and poetry and was an eclectic and varied event."