THINGS are kicking off this weekend at Weymouth beach for the Dorset Sport and Wellbeing Festival.

Games of volleyball and table tennis, and sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding has lots of children and families learning about new sports and ways to live a healthy life at the Have a Go Weekend.

Events continue today for the festival.

Health care providers and sports enthusiasts were all on hand to teach everyone more about what people can do to be more active at the festival, which runs until July 31.

The event aims to promote an active, healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of the great range of events and sports clubs in the Weymouth and Portland area.

Dave Franks, sport and physical activities manager for Dorset County Council said the festival has been hugely successful so far.

The first day saw 200 volunteers and over 300 children with disabilities enjoy a great day on the beach.

Mr Franks said: "It's all about creating a healthy lifestyle for people and to encourage people to be active and responsible for their lives.

"There's lots of concerns around obesity and healthy eating.

"The recommendation is to do 30 minutes activity three times a week. Some people just need encouragement and this is an opportunity to try out activities and find something they enjoy.

"We live in a wonderful area of Dorset and we just want people to get outside and get active."

Sharon Taylor, a wellness coach for LiveWell Dorset – a free service helping people to change their lifestyle, was giving out flyers and advice at the festival.

Sharon said the vital things people need to consider are the intake of certain foods and sugars and alcohol, and the damage smoking can cause to lungs.

She said: "We are just looking to help people to make lifestyle changes. We have vouchers for weightloss groups and help people to get more physically active by letting people know what's going on in the area."

The festival, which Mr Franks said is for anyone from nought to 90 attracted hundreds of visitors, all trying out something new.

One mother, Claudia Loeffler, from Weymouth, brought her three children to the festival.

She said: "We are trying lots of sports for the children. We like sports and we just want to try some and see if we like them. This year there's lots more than last year."

Her daughter, Leonie, added: "There's lots of fun activities that we get to do that we don't do at school and it's fun."