A DAZZLING fireworks display lit up the Cathedral Close as Salisbury Festival 2003 burst into life this week.

The two-week long festival - embracing a packed programme of music, dance, theatre, circus and visual art - was officially launched with a cathedral concert by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and his quartet on Friday night.

But it was the Family Fireworks Fiesta on Bank Holiday Monday that gave it a real lift-off.

Hundreds of people bought tickets and packed into the Close to watch the spectacular pyrotechnics and listen to the music of the Brasshoppers, Bollywood Brass and Band E2K.

And many more saw and heard the celebrations free of charge from Queen Elizabeth Gardens and other vantage points - dancing to the music and partying into the night.

The build-up to the fireworks fiesta had started in the afternoon with comical characters popping up on city centre street corners during sequences of street theatre.

And during the early evening in the Cathedral Close there were clowns, jugglers and acrobats.

Friday night's official opening of the festival was performed by chairman of the Festival Board Caroline Newbigging.

Festival director Trevor Davies made use of the opening to thank all the sponsors and business partners for the continued support for the two-week venture. And he expressed his delight at the many international artists taking part in this year's festival - and highlighted the many different venues being used in and around Salisbury.