I HAVE lived in the area for 23 years but somehow have never made it to the Fringe Festival. Call yourself a Stroudie?' came the disbelieving cries so this weekend, having decided to put things right, I headed for the heart of the Five Valleys and was overwhelmed by what I found.

Exactly 101 bands played in the three-days and not once during my casual - and gloriously aimless - ambles around the town centre did I come across a single act that failed to prepare, bring talent or entertain.

I heard folk, dance, indie and ska. I popped in on rock trio Morph, with their powerful vocals - and as one onlooker rightly proclaimed a better version' of Kaiser Chiefs' catchy I Predict a Riot.

I tried to slink past metal group Irritant but found myself clawed back by their infectious energy and by the big-barnet banging of the thrash guitarist.

And I joined the hundreds who jumped and jostled in the Cornhill stage as Ska Daddy closed out an unforgettable weekend.

Crowds of all ages partied in peace until the small hours and I was amazed to walk through town on Sunday morning to see barely a stray piece of litter on the streets.

Putting on a free festival like this is an awesome feat and an enormous amount of credit must go to the organisers - who made it happen on such a tight budget.

Staggeringly, stages were turned around and sound checks complete within minutes and praise must also be heaped on the scores of volunteers and bands which played without charge and helped give the town a festival of which to be proud.