A spectacular concoction of dance, music, art and theatre brought Barking to life as the borough hosted the annual Molten Festival.

The festivities saw a host of colourful cultural events take place between September 2 and 9 in and around Barking Town Centre.

Kicking off the festival on the first Sunday was Green Arts Community Arts Choir singing in Vicarage Field Shopping Centre plus Capoeira and street dancing performances by local youngsters in the town square.

The day ended with Scarabeus Aerial Theatre putting on an daring and beautiful aerial dance on Barking Town Hall tower.

Monday through to Friday featured sculpture workshops with community group Art Blanche in Barking Learning Centre, multi-art installations by Far From the Norm who performed at the Barking Broadway Theatre, twilight tours around Barking, and a master class by artist Silvia Krupinska who demonstrated her unusual grape extraction technique for making sculptures.

There was also an art trail by youth arts organisation Studio 3 Arts and a chance for residents to write their feelings about the Olympic year of 2012 on a bench. Artist Orly Orbach will then imprint these by burning them onto the wood.

Saturday included street theatre performances by clowns Leandre and two comic actors on motorised scooters called Picto Factor: Brimbirons.

Pirates, street dancers, giant bugs and gymnasts entertained the crowds, while live brass band music blared out.

There was also a visit from LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and British Paralympians Sophie Christiansen, Crystal Lane and Rik Waddon.

Lord Coe took part in a question and answer session with deputy leader of the council Rocky Gill about the chairman’s perspective on the Games and the legacy it will leave for host boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham.

The festival ended with four million volts of electricity as Lords of Lightning put on an awe-inspiring lightning show.