MUSIC lovers soaked up the sunshine on Weymouth harbourside when a two day music festival returned to the town.

Crowds flocked to the Town Bridge to enjoy a weekend of live music when Quayside Festival once again took up residence.

The free annual event is organised by the Rendezvous bar, with outside bars selling food and drink throughout the day.

Rendezvous general manager, Keith Treggiden said the festival's success 'spoke for itself' as crowds lined the harbourside to enjoy the music.

"It's phenomenal," he said. "This is the first year in a long time that we've had some sunshine. The last three years have been a wash out and Easter wasn't great weather so it's nice to see this weather.

"Last year we won Best Live Entertainment Pub for the festival and I think we've got to the stage now where we know what we're doing. As long as Weymouth is having a good time, that's all we care about. It's the reason we do it."

Keith added between 5,000 and 6,000 people were thought to have passed through the festival on Saturday and 10,000 music lovers heading down on the main 'Quayside Day' on Sunday.

The jam-packed lineup included Identikit, Local Heroes, Undecided and Riffs with Speedway Snails closing the show on Saturday and the Chase headlining the Sunday.

Weymouth residents, David and Caroline Clark head down to the festival every year.

"It's really important to support local music and the great thing about Weymouth it that everywhere you go there's something going on.

"The unusual thing about Quayside is there's kids, parents, grandparents all here enjoying themselves. It's just so friendly. It's a great atmosphere and really mellow," Caroline said.

Noel and Sue Coffey, from Weymouth also support the festival every year.

"We come down for the music. They always put on a good show and it's great to see everyone in the town come together," Noel said. "There's been bad weather for the last few years so I think this year the holiday makers are getting to enjoy it as well."

Rob and Lisa Baker found out about the festival by chance after planning a weekend away in Weymouth.

Rob said: "We come to Weymouth four or five times a year but we didn't know about the festival until after we'd booked it - we saw it on Facebook. It's got a great atmosphere and is very friendly."

Another Quayside music festival is scheduled to take place over the August bank holiday this year.