CHESTER’S first Fringe festival has been hailed a huge success after a number of unique events were held across the city.

The four-day event saw hundreds of people turn out to the diverse events such as a poetry and short story open mic night, a vaudeville cabaret and an exhibition of local art.

All of the events bar one were free and there were also a number of pop-up events in the city centre where unsuspecting shoppers were treated to an opera singer reaching her high notes at the top of the Eastgate Clock, a belly dancer and a group of medieval players.

The Fringe launched last Thursday with a music night at Boughton Hall Cricket Club where local bands and musicians, led by classical cellist Luke Moore, put on a diverse musical offering.

On Friday at the Cross Keys pub on Duke Street, there was a speakeasy event where talented musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers could showcase their work.

Over the weekend Funky Aardvarks on Bridge Street Row held an exhibition of work by local artists and pop-up events across the city included young performers from Chester Little Theatre and Minerva Arts putting on performances in the city.

On Saturday night there was a night of risque vaudeville cabaret in St Mary’s on the Hill Centre before Telford’s Warehouse finished off the festival with an open mic night on Sunday.

Chester Fringe chairman Mark Williams said: “There was a great team of people organising the events.

“It went really well and we have had a lot of great feedback.

“The venues are happy, the organisers are happy and the performers are happy which made it a brilliant event.

“We are all tired but people are already talking about what we can do next year which is great.

“I just want to thank everyone who helped make the event happen, all of it was voluntary with local people and except for the cabaret, which had professional performers, all the events were entirely free.”