ORGANISERS have hailed the 11th Dorchester Festival as a resounding success.

The five-day event had everything from classical Swedish guitarists to giant seahorses with something for all ages and tastes to enjoy.

Despite a damp start to Saturday crowds turned out to enjoy the festival parade as it made its way through town.

A number of youngsters also got involved in the parade itself, making puppets in special workshops that joined Percy the Seahorse on the parade.

The festival kicked off in style with the powerful Ballad of Martha Brown performed by Angel Exit Theatre at the Corn Exchange.

Light relief was brought by comedy performers Laurence Clarke and Mat Ricardo who took to the stage over the weekend.

After a host of musical performances in the Borough Gardens over the weekend, ska band The Beat performed a dynamic live show at the Corn Exchange on the final day of the festival on Monday.

A range of other events over the five days helped the town come alive, including something for youngsters with Birdnest Theatre’s production Wash at Munchkins Play Cafe.

Marketing officer for Dorchester Arts Laura Mulhern said the festival could not have gone any better.

She said: “It was a fantastic success. Even though it was a bit drizzly on Saturday there was an amazing turn out and Sunday and Monday were fantastic.

“We couldn’t have asked for better and a huge thanks goes to everyone involved.”

Laura said that the real stars of the show were the ‘great team’ of festival volunteers who helped make sure the events all ran smoothly.

She said: “We couldn’t have done it without the volunteers.”

Laura said the team at Dorchester Arts ‘can’t wait’ to begin planning for the next Dorchester Festival but they have plenty to keep them busy in the mean time with a packed programmed of summer events.

Among the highlights will be an open air theatre production of The Tempest from Miracle Theatre, which will be coming to Maumbury Rings on July 5.

For more information about the event and the rest of Dorchester Arts’ summer programme visit dorchesterarts.org.uk