The tents came down at the Guardian Hay festival last night and sheep prepared to return to the muddied fields.

The biggest literary festival in the world - described by Bill Clinton as the Woodstock of the mind - had attracted 70,000 book fans, over 10,000 more than last year. Most admitted they had made the pilgrimage to the Welsh border town out of curiosity at the former US president's declared affection for the place with one bookshop per 39 inhabitants.

Audiences had parted with £100 a head to hear Mr Clinton speak last year, but while the most expensive ticket this year was £24 for the soul singer Macy Gray, takings were up more than 25%. Almost all events were sold out, and thousands waded through rain-drenched valleys in the Black Mountains to hear the highlights, the US writer Maya Angelou, Booker winner Ian McEwan and the playwright David Hare. Audiences swelled to 1,300.

More than 400 writers, artists and musicians led 250 events including a new children's festival.