A revitalised Charter Fair is set to hit the streets in 2018.

The event will be held in Bucky Doo Square on Saturday, September 29.

It follows a difficult few years for the popular fair, with organisers acknowledging earlier this year that the move to Mountfield in 2016 had not been a success.

The 2017 event saw a return to South Street, and it was linked up with the Rope Festival in May.

Now the steering group behind the historic fair has announced that the event is to be revitalised when it returns.

Throughout the day Bucky Doo Square will be filled with an eclectic mix of singers and musicians, reflecting the diverse talents to be found locally and, for the first time in some years, the Arts Centre auditorium will also be packed with community stalls and the stage with demonstrations by local groups.

A spokesman said: “We very much appreciate the cooperation of the Arts Centre, this is going to make so much more possible. We are aiming to offer the opportunity for involvement to all ages and interest groups, although there will obviously be a capacity limit."

The organisers are also hoping to again be able to include ramps for skate boarders, BMX bikers and scooterists, so much a feature of the Fair in past years. The 2017 Charter Fair Trophy was shared between Debbie Bird (West Bay Play Area) and Rob Ridge (Trick Factory) for their unselfish work over many years with and on behalf of young people, and suggestions are being welcomed for the 2018 award.

Rob Ridge is one of three new additions to the Charter Fair Committee, and is joined by Mark Margetts and David Powell.

By coincidence the date of the 2018 fair is also the date of another historic, and now largely forgotten, local event: the Bridport Michaelmas Fair. Consideration is being given to how some elements of the two events may be combined.

There is in fact a link between the two: when in 1554 Queen Elizabeth I re-confirmed Bridport’s right to hold a twice-weekly market she also gave permission for three annual fairs.