The Balham Festival has been hailed a great success after the nine-day event finished on a high at the weekend with a carnival and family fun day.

Drawing to a close last Sunday, the festival included talks, walks, films, arts and crafts and was sponsored by the Wandsworth Borough News.

BBC London's Big and Daft radio show broadcast from the Bedford Pub and organic butcher Gary Chadwick, based in Balham High Street, made a Big and Daft pie to mark the occasion.

People enjoyed the Bollywood party, the last event of the festival, which featured a variety of music from India and Mauritius.

As part of the celebrations, Balham-based arts collective Artmarkit adorned 17 shops in Bedford Hill with artwork and photography.

And Balham-based film-makers showed videos including Balham, Gateway to the South - a spoof on Balham as a holiday destination.

Gavin Watts, festival vice-chairman and chairman of Artmarkit, said: "The atmosphere of the carnival was excellent and the parade route was decorated with golden balloons.

"People came running out of their houses and lined the streets to see the biggest ever number of participants.

"There were 18 floats involved in the parade and several of them were playing music."

The Family Fun Weekend on Tooting Bec Common also went down a treat with the Balham Business Olympics, dance from Bounce School of Performing Arts - based at Alderbrook School - music, stalls, sports and children's entertainment.

July 12, 2002 10:00