THE Dorset Echo has been announced as one of the main media partners for this year’s Dorset Seafood Festival.

The seventh annual Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival will take place on Weymouth harbourside on July 12 and 13.

Last year, over 50,000 people packed the streets and the harbourside to see more than 90 stands, enjoy the Champagne and seafood and watch demonstrations from top chefs.

Toby Granville, group editor of the Dorset Echo, said: “We are thrilled to be one of the main media partners of the Dorset Seafood Festival – and we look forward to providing our readers with great coverage of this event in the Dorset Echo newspaper and online on our website dorsetecho.co.uk.

“This is one of the premier events in the county’s calendar, going from strength to strength each year while raising thousands for the Fishermen’s Mission – a fantastic cause – and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Other sponsors include Pommery Champagne, Piddle Brewery, ARA Wines, Weird Fish and Lloyds Bank, with Dorset Dream Cottages and Penn Castle as competition sponsors.

Brian Cooper, Dorset Seafood Director, added: “We’re delighted that the Dorset Echo will once again be one of the main media partners of the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival.

“We are very appreciative of their coverage and the awareness that they deliver for this award winning event. “Whilst enjoyment is at the heart of the event we are also committed to raising much needed funds for our chosen charity The Fishermen’s Mission.

“Last year we were able to raise £7973 and the aim is to beat this for 2014.

“Fishermen have had a tough start to the year with the UK storms. The Fishermen’s Mission has launched an emergency appeal to help them and we hope to support them in their task.”

Events include interactive seafood demonstrations, competitions, a music programme, whelk revival, champagne pouring activities, music, entertainment, expert food and wine matching.

Chefs and experts lined up to date include Great British BBQ Champion Ben Barlett, The Dining Room’s Taher Jibet, John Wright from River Cottage, Masterchef winner Mat Follas, Dorset’s Michelin chef Russell Brown, and Nigel Bloxham from The Crab House Café.

The event, held annually on the middle weekend of July, started in 2008 and attracted the sponsorship of Pommery Champagne in 2010.

In 2013 it was judged Britain’s fourth Best Food Festival by the Independent newspaper. The festival also scooped a silver award for tourism event of the year at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards back in January.

For more information visit dorsetseafood.co.uk.