ORGANISERS who staged a four-night lighting spectacular in Durham City hope to stage something similar in two years’ time.

Despite complaints about congestion and overcrowding, the four-day Lumiere festival has been hailed a huge success, with more than 140,000 people flocking to the historic peninsular and spending their money in the city.

The festival cost Durham County Council, the Arts Council, the European Commission culture programme and local sponsors more than £1m, but visitors spent far more than that.

The first festival in 2009 – when torrents of rain defeated the electrical circuits of many pieces – is estimated to have generated £1.5m and Coun Neil Foster, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development said: “We estimate that around 140,000 people came from far and wide just to see Lumiere.

“While many of those people were here they stayed in the county’s hotels and guest houses, and ate in our restaurants and café’s. These people will go home and tell others what a sensational place County Durham is, hopefully encouraging repeat visits and initiating new ones.

“Within the city, the many shops and restaurants which stayed open late to make the most of the boost to business offered by the crowds attracted by Lumiere will, I am sure, have enjoyed a good weekend.

“Culture-based tourism is a growing industry and the council is committed to supporting it. Over this weekend, we have made the most of a wonderful opportunity to showcase Durham City and the county as a whole on a world stage and I feel sure the financial benefits will continue well into the future.”

Coun Foster said the council intended to stage another festival in two years.

The new Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, who is due to be enthroned in the city’s cathedral on Saturday, described the light festival as a “magnificent spectacle”.

Highlights included the Lindisfarne Gospels projected on the cathedral walls, and a fire garden at the cathedral.

Bishop Justin said: “The creativity was spellbinding. It just goes to highlight the sort of imaginative public use the cathedral can be put to. The festival attracted 140,000 visitors to Durham which must have had an enormously beneficial effect on the local economy.”