Hull's 2017 UK City of Culture named 'Best Arts Project'

The award was presented to volunteer guides by actor Christopher Ecclestone

Hull's year as UK City of Culture has been voted Best Arts Project in the National Lottery awards.

Former Doctor Who actor Christopher Ecclestone broke the news to the team behind the city's year-long series of events and to "blue coat" volunteers on Wednesday.

Hull City Council previously said more than £1bn of investment had flowed into the city.

Mr Ecclestone said the City of Culture had been "an overwhelming success".

The National Lottery said the city's programme attracted 5.3m people to more than 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions.

The programme began with Made in Hull, which saw light installations added to many of the city's best known buildings, and ended with the Turner Prize being awarded in the city.

The 2017 cultural events included a parade of beasts, giants and shape shifters

Mr Ecclestone, who has spoken about the importance of northern England in the arts, talked to some of those behind the year-long cultural festival, which had £10m of National Lottery funding.

He said the year had put Hull in the national spotlight.

"It set the bar as high as it could go," he said.

"I think Hull used the City of Culture exactly as it should be used, to express what was original and vital about this wonderful city."

Organisers said at least nine in 10 of the city's residents had experienced a City of Culture event

Katy Fuller, creative director and CEO of Hull 2017 legacy organisation Absolutely Cultured, said: "This news is incredible, not only for us here at Absolutely Cultured but for the entire city and everyone who was involved in making Hull's year as UK City of Culture such a tremendous success.

"This National Lottery Award is for the city of Hull and we would like to say a huge thank you."