Free musicals draw in 250,000

Record numbers of revellers enjoyed two free arts festivals in London at the weekend.

More than 250,000 Londoners and tourists visited the West End LIVE in Leicester Square, featuring open-air performances by US talk-show Jerry Springer, star of Chicago, and excerpts from musicals including Hairspray, We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing and Sister Act.

Robert Davies, deputy leader of Westminster council, who launched the event five years ago, said it was the best turnout he had seen, adding: "On Saturday alone we sold 500 extra show tickets."

On Sunday 25,000 attended Exhibition Road Music Day in South Kensington, to see music from Parisian electro-pop to Bollywood dance.