Seafood-lovers flocked to Weymouth's harbourside over the weekend for the 2018 Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival, making the most of the sunshine and the delicacies on offer - which ranged from whole lobsters and oysters to Asian cuisine, champagne and even some vegan offerings.

Many dozens of stallholders set out their wares along the waterfront, hoping to attract the custom of residents and visitors.

On Trinity Road, Danny and Helen Evans had set up a stall offering vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. "We offer the healthy option," Mr Evans laughed.

The couple, from Somerset, said they set up shop at a range of food fayres and other festivals - but claimed that the Dorset Seafood Festival was the biggest and the best.

"This is our third year here, and it gets bigger and better every time," Mr Evans said, adding that footfall was greater because, unlike at some other seafood festivals, there was no entrance charge for the harbourside event.

On the other side of the water, Weyfish fishmongers had for the first year ever set up extra stalls outside the shop on Custom House Quay.

"The festival's fantastic," said owner Sean Cooper. "And the weather's really with us."

He revealed that all his staff were working throughout the weekend to cook and sell seafood delicacies, including oysters, scallops with salsa verde, crab-cakes and salt-and-pepper squid.

As well as vendors, Weymouth residents were out in force to enjoy the sun, the atmosphere and the goods on offer.

Preston residents Chris and Sue Jones were drinking Pommery champagne by the harbourside- and said they did the same every year.

"It's better this year than it ever has been," Mr Jones said, adding that because of the increased space given to the festival, it was 'less cramped than usual'.

Mrs Jones noted that the festival was a 'real boost' for Weymouth. "It really brings people here," she said, while her husband pointed to the high-end yachts moored in the harbour as proof of the wealthy visitors drawn to the resort by the seafood event.

The couple revealed that they were looking forward to trying some local gin before tasting some seafood.