DETERMINED organisers of Bewdley Festival overcame technical hurdles to stage a week of events which entertained arts lovers from throughout Wyre Forest.

This year's festival, which wrapped up on Saturday after eight days, proved a test of the technical crew's skills, with a feast of drama and music, said festival spokeswoman, Carole Swingler.

Comedy from The Reduced Shakespeare Company and Jenny Eclair and music from Elkie Brooks depended on everything being all right on the night, she said.

"It has definitely been the most difficult festival technically that we have ever had.

"Jenny Eclair's show was particularly difficult - the sound had to be synchronised so we feel very pleased to have the right crew."

She added: "The festival was super. We are really delighted. We feel we have had more top acts than ever before."

Mrs Swingler said Monday's talk by Alastair Fothergill, the man behind TV documentary series The Blue Planet, was the finest festival event she had ever witnessed.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company - who recite the Bard's complete works at lightning speed - was sold out well in advance, she added.

"They were so funny and so brilliant - people were saying to me afterwards 'please, bring them back next year'."

The show by Elkie Brooks at The Ramada Hotel in Habberley Road was also fully booked.

Mrs Swingler said: "She was superb. People said they had never heard her sing so well. She stayed a bit at the end of the show and said she had really enjoyed herself, I think at a small venue the artists really feel the warmth coming back at them."

Antiques Roadshow expert Eric Knowles, and ballet dancers turned flower arrangers, The Bloomsbury Boys, also proved a hit with talks about their field of expertise.

The final event, party night at Bewdley High School, attracted music fans from Northern Ireland and Germany to see acapella group, The Magnets.

Mrs Swingler said: "The chap who did the drums with his voice was outstanding. If you closed your eyes you would think there was a drummer on stage with them."