A TOTAL of 125,000 people attended the West End Festival this year.

The annual extravaganza marked it's 20th anniversary with a packed bill of events which ran from June 5 to 28.

Organisers say this was the biggest and best festival to date with over 400 exhibitions, performances, talks, tours, workshops and screenings at over 80 west end venues - many of which were free of charge.

It is estimated the 115,000 attended the free events alone.

Festival director Michael Dale said: “Participants from all over the world brought events to the festival including those from Japan, Serbia, India, Russia, Germany and the USA. "From the mobbed streets of Byres Road on Festival Sunday to the packed out Kelvingrove bandstand finale, we’re very pleased with WEF 2015.”

Festival chairman, Liz Scobie, added: "This year has been the most fantastic and energised festival yet and I would like to thank everyone involved including funders, visitors, participants and the local community.

"We're already looking forward to our 21st birthday celebrations next year. In the meantime, we're taking a short break prior to launching our second winter event at the end of 2015."

Creon Brock, music and theatre programmer for Oran Mor said: “This year’s West End Festival has been another great success at Oran Mor. We've had 38 shows across the festival, and a typically eclectic range of genres including theatre, tribute bands, folk, pop, indie, jazz, talks and poetry.

"The highlight of the festival at Oran Mor was our fourth annual 'all dayer' which took place last weekend and saw 14 Scottish bands, playing across three stages, all in the one building."

Other festival highlights included the Mackintosh Queens Cross Summer Concert, ‘Feel the Spirit’, with renowned composer and conductor, John Rutter.

For families, author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Nick Sharratt brought the Gruffalo to the festival, giving children the unique opportunity to meet the literary character.

Organisers say the festival would not be possible without support from key funders including the National Lottery, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Arts and Scottish Book Trust, in addition to all local businesses and participants who contributed.