Culture secretary Andy Burnham has hailed Liverpool's cultural and economic achievements delivered under the auspices of Capital of Culture 08.

He said the year-long celebrations have surpassed all expectations and he highlighted the Klimt Exhibition at Tate Liverpool and Echo and the Bunnymen's performance at Liverpool the Musical as particular favourites.

Mr Burnham praised Phil Redmond, the Culture Company and various cultural institutions such as the Philharmonic and the Playhouse, reports the Liverpool Daily Post.

He told the newspaper: "It's been fantastic - especially given some of the difficulties there were - and there have been a number of events that will live long in the memory.

He added that 2008 will go down as the year that Liverpool "really moved ahead".

A recent study commissioned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency found that the Turner Prize 2007 has brought £10 million to the Merseyside economy.

In fact, around 72,000 visitors have attended the exhibition at Tate Liverpool.