Organisers of Coastal Currents 2008 claim the town should be proud to have hosted the festival which climaxed with a performance of Shakespeare's class tale A Midsummer Night's Dream.

More than 250 flocked to the recently revamped St Leonards Gardens to see two nights of Shakespeare performed by a newly established local theatre company.

Other highlights included Nunah Physical Theatre Company's show Control, late night goings on at The Gala evening, Le Grand Peep Show in Priory Meadow and a roaming neandertholic wildman pestering town centre shoppers.

Organisers Mel Bonney Kane said: "This festival has been put together on a limited budget but works because of the unlimited vision and support that the local artists have brought to this festival.

"We have had people making journeys from London, Brighton and even Europe to see events and have attracted the interest of other major festivals in the UK to our innovative programme of events."

If you are interested in becoming a friend of the festival and helping to support its future then please contact Penny Precious at Hastings Borough Council via e-mail on pprecious@hastings.gov.uk or call 01424 451154.