YOUNGSTERS from Dorchester held another fantastic festival of emerging talent.

The Anonymous Festival returned to Maumbury Rings for the eighth year yesterday with performances from noon to 6pm.

The free event is organised by Dorchester Youth Extras, a youth project comprised of 13 to 21-year-olds, to showcase creative and musical talent from across the region.

Emma Scott, Community Development Officer for Dorchester Town Council and festival coordinator, said: "The reason we started this festival was because a survey conducted of local young people discovered that they don’t have enough venues to perform in, so it’s about giving them that opportunity.

"Dorchester Youth Extras has been running for about 12 years and the aim is to improve life for young people living in Dorchester and the surrounding areas through holding events like these and raising awareness of issues that affect their peers.”

All performers are under 25 and include the likes of folk musician Declan Millar, alternative rock band Wise Intention and Gypsy-funk headline act Fast Decline.

As an experience festival-goer, Emma uses her expertise to transform the historic site into a truly subversive festival environment.

She said: "For me it’s a wonderful venue, Maumbury Rings is an ancient Roman amphitheatre, so it really lends itself as an outdoor performance space."

As well music visitors enjoyed stone carving, pom-pom making, clay modelling, a bungee run, and climbing wall, all free of charge.

Throughout the year the Dorchester youth project work hard to raise the money through various fundraising initiates.

Chair of Dorchester Youth Extra Alyshia Bridle, 19, said: "I help Emma to run the meetings and do a lot of help with fundraising. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s worth it in the end when the funding comes through."

This year the festival has received grants from Dorchester Town Council, West Dorset District Council, the NHS 'Keep Love Sweet' scheme, and the National Lottery.

Alyshia added: "I think it’s a great project for young people to get involved in, especially because they are able to bring fresh, bright ideas for the event.

"It gives the performers the chance to showcase their talent and go on to do other festivals afterwards."

Among previous performers is the well-known former Thomas Hardye student, Isaiah Dreads, who has gone on to grace the stages of world-renowned festivals such as Glastonbury and Bestival.

Mayoress of Dorchester, Anita Harries, said: "It's a great opportunity for young people, it acts as a springboard for them to go on to greater things.

"Emma and all the young people involved deserve all the credit they get, it's a wonderful day out."