THE sixth annual Brighouse Arts Festival continues this week having opened on Saturday to record audiences.

The event runs for nine days with more than 30 events at different venues through the town.

Matthew Harrison-Lord, programme director, said: “We have been amazed by the popularity of this year’s event. Ticket sales are over double last year’s already.”

The festival began with a comic Coal Miners street theatre acrobatic act performed by Luke Beevers and Suzanne Jackson in Brighouse town centre.

Students from Calderdale College gave performances at Brighouse Library along with the Hipperholme Community Choir.

A Son et Lumiere immersive light show took place at the Assembly Rooms along with Rachel Kellett’s drop in Art for Kids workshop.

In the evening Natasha Harper directed a Gala Night of songs from the Musicals at the Civic Hall. With a cast of more than 30 local players they sang and danced through popular songs from the shows.

On Sunday the Orchestra of Square Chapel performed symphonies by Schubert and Beethoven at St Martin’s Church. They were joined by soloist Sara Gibson who gave a performance of the Weber clarinet concerto.

Monday night saw local country singer Jade Helliwell perform. Halifax singer Bridget Budge along with Sylvia Sowray and Kim Wilde performed songs while Barry Smith led a concert of acoustic folk music.

The festival continues all week with the Enkelit Finnish choir to perform at St Matthew’s church in Rastrick tonight.

On Thursday there will be a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at St Martin’s Church and on Friday Roger Davies gives a concert with his band.

Eureka, the children’s museum, is holding a free drop in digital art activity session at St Matthew’s church hall on Saturday from 10am. An organ recital at St Martin’s church on Sunday brings the festival to a close.

Steven Lord, chairman of the committee said: “As you can imagine, bringing together a programme of over 30 events, with nearly 200 performers in 9 days is an enormously complex task but our loyal band of volunteers really make it happen.”

Tickets are available online at brighouseartsfestival.co.uk.