Record crowds for Hull's Freedom festival

The festival features street theatre, live music and arts events

Organisers of a three-day arts festival in Hull said record crowds of more than 80,000 attended events in the city.

The Freedom Festival, in its sixth year, marks the city's links with anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce.

It features street theatre, art and music events at locations across the city centre.

Hull is one of four city's bidding to be the UK City of Culture in 2017. Organisers hope the festival's success will help the city win the title.

John Pywell, from Hull City Council, said: ""This was our calling card for city of culture. This is what a great international festival looks like.

"If the judges have seen this then they will have seen something really special. Hull has a fantastic cultural offer and this has just proved it in leaps and bounds."

Officials said 54,039 people attended festival events on Saturday and expected the final figure for the weekend to exceed 80,000.