Over four glorious days the city centre has been transformed into a riot of colour, bursting with amazing sights, smells, sounds and tastes.

Boasting three-quarters of a mile of stalls, Bradford International Market Festival has tempted hundreds of thousands to say bonjour to French cheese, guten tag to German beer and sausages and buon giorno to delicious Italian wines, pasta, cheeses, salami.

And traders from Holland, Belgium, Austria, Spain and Ireland have also set out their wares alongside the best of British including Lake District lamb, Highland cattle, wild boar and venison farmed on Devon parkland and Dorset scallops.

The region's best Asian restaurants offered classic dishes in a festival organisers say could well eclipse the massive success of 2004's event.

But it was not just about the markets, with music and street theatre also at the heart of the festival.

Centenary Square has seen fiery performances by northern salsa maestros Fuego Latino who joined forces with musicians Omar Puente and Cabaniea. Shoppers could even set down their bags and experience a burst of Latin fever by trying a few simple steps.

Yesterday, South African collective The Mighty Zulu Nation brought warm, rousing harmonies and stirring dance moves with their fusion of Zulu traditions and Western influences.

Later on, intoxicating sounds of the Louisiana swampland swept through the evening air courtesy of The Cajun Aces, who played uplifting two-step songs in patois Cajun French.

West Yorkshire-based Dudalnieki brought the sound of Latvian folk, while Latvian troupe Kamolins performed dances that have been passed down through the ages.

And today, give-piece jazz ensemble Tongue and Groove were playing the square.

Spell-binding harpist Fiona Katie Roberts whose repertoire includes classical, folk, jazz and Celtic influences mesmerised the crowd throughout the weekend.

Street performers included the feckless countryside advice of Farmer Giles, the Van Dunk Brothers' synchronised dry land swimming display and the 21st century maypole dancing of The Conedancers.

Malcolm Veigas, head of markets for Bradford Council, said the festival was the result of eight months of planning.

"It's been pretty spectacular," he said.

"We got 650,000 people in 2004 and the place has been heaving this weekend. I'm hoping over the four days we can say we've topped that. We need the weather to stay on our side."

He said he was pleased to see the return of traders such as London's Borough Market from 2004.

"I'm really happy because this proves that markets are very much at the heart of the city."

Sheena Wrigley, head of Bradford Council's theatres, arts and festivals, said the festival has been one of the jewels in the Big Summer schedule of events.

"We've had the Mela, the markets are now and we've got Party In The Park in Bingley next weekend, along with all the other smaller events across the district.

"I think the Big Summer programme has gone a long way to showing people that Bradford is a great place to come for a really good day out."

Peter Gott, a pig farmer and butcher who headed up the Borough Market traders, said they had been well looked after by organisers.

"I said I'd need a power supply by the stall, for example, and it's a case of no problem'," he said.

"I think Bradford people like markets - that thing of being able to talk to us directly and ask questions like, why is it called dry cured' bacon. You don't get that kind of one-on-one with a supermarket."

He added: "Cities need markets - it's what brings that vibrancy and increases trade 13 per cent right across the board. That's what the studies show.

"We'll keep on coming back up north."

e-mail: jonathan.walton @bradford.newsquest.co.uk