MORE than 1,000 people gathered at the side of the River Wye for the traditional fireworks finale to Chepstow Festival.

The show started with the old Wye Bridge being lit up by brilliant white fireworks.

Festival chairman Ned Heywood said: "We had more than 1,000 and everyone bar one small group tidied up after themselves.

"We also had lots of donations for the fireworks fund with lots of fivers and tenners going into the collection boxes."

The 15-minute show, which features lots of spectacular aerial pyrotechnics, costs more than £2,000.

Mr Heywood said: "It has been an amazing festival and if it hadn't been the wettest June and July since records began it would have been an absolutely fantastic festival.

"We still had some incredible theatre performances in torrential rain and although the actors got wet the audience canopy (at Chepstow Castle) proved its worth."

Planning will start soon for the 14th Chepstow Festival due to take place in 2014 although there will be another festival of open air theatre will take place next year.

There are also plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the making of the film Ivanhoe at Chepstow Castle.

The silent classic starred American movie star King Baggot and is based on Sir Walter Scott's novel.

The Chepstow Society acquired a copy but showings were rare because of the danger of the unstable film catching fire.

The society has since had it transferred to DVD.

Giving a talk at Chepstow Library about the Chepstow Society and its collections, vice-chairman Mr David Lindo explained that it was originally bought at auction.

He said the society's first secretary, Ivor Waters, came away from the auction disappointed to have lost – only to find it was bought by another Chepstow resident who presented it to the society.