ROTW: Hot stuff

LAST weekend s Rhythms of The World has been hailed as a great success by organisers and police. The annual event was held at various locations around Hitchin and was visited by thousands of people who went there to enjoy performances by musicians, dancer

LAST weekend's Rhythms of The World has been hailed as a great success by organisers and police.

The annual event was held at various locations around Hitchin and was visited by thousands of people who went there to enjoy performances by musicians, dancers, artists and poets.

Bob Mardon, the man behind the festival, said the event was "very, very successful".

He said: "It was a fantastic day, we are very, very happy. The police are happy, the licensing people are happy, the event went so well and we are very pleased for the organisation.

"The weather was spot on, it's too hot now but over the weekend it was just right. I think Rhythms of The World allows people to really unwind and let out all of their energy, and the variety of acts we have allows them to do this."

One of the stages at this year's festival was named after Phillip Edwards, better known as Phill Friendly, one of the co-organisers of last year's event who died in an accident after being knocked down by a car days before it opened.

Bob said: "Some friends of mine who are techno DJs were playing good stuff, I took my radio off, glasses off, watch off, and bounced my way into the mosh pit in the middle of the street. I went in there dancing for myself and I realised I was dancing for Phill. It's that kind of event."

Despite the numbers of people involved, the police said the two-day event was incident free.

According to a North Hertfordshire District Council spokesman, initial feedback suggests that in excess of 20,000 people visited Hitchin during the event "many of whom have said what a great event it was.