LET'S go fly a kite- the organiser of a festival is urging the community to get involved.

The Weymouth Kite Festival will return to Weymouth Beach on the first bank holiday weekend in May.

The event will feature two days of competition, an international food village, and performances from local groups.

The future of the festival was previously up in the air after losing one of its biggest sponsors.

Despite this loss, Michael McManus, who heads the Weymouth Kite Festival Community Voluntary Group, said preparations had gone a lot better than they thought.

He said: "It didn't look good. I put it out there in the kite world. I have had such a fantastic response.

"They have said they are coming down and supporting us to show Weymouth outsiders can support the kite festival."

The festival is a recurring fixture on the borough's events calendar. The event used to be organised by the borough council but this came to an end after funding was cut.

It has since been in the hands of the Weymouth Kite Festival Community Voluntary Group.

Michael said: "I've been checking the weather. The weather looks good. Here's to a good 2016 festival."

The event will take place on Saturday April 30, Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2.

Performances from local dance groups will take place on Saturday whilst kite flyers practice ahead of the competition on Sunday and Monday.

Flying will take place across the weekend between 10am and 5pm. Performances from dance groups will begin on Saturday at noon.

Prizes and trophies will be presented by the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Cllr Christine James on Monday at 4pm. This will take place by the main bus on the Esplanade.

Michael said he was keen to see more supporters from Weymouth turn up at this year's festival.

He said: "I would just like to see people come down and support the Kite Festival.

"If they're not going to support a local event in the town, or if local businesses aren't going to support it, what's the point of doing it?

"It's a boost to the economy.

"I don't want a thank you for what I am doing. I just want people to see what it is."