THOUSANDS turned out to celebrate Weymouth’s live music scene at the Quayside Music Festival thrown in honour of the diamond jubilee.

Keith Treggiden, manager at the Rendezvous and one of the organisers of the event, said “record numbers” had attended the event.

He said: “It is the eighth or ninth time we have put on the festival and each event gets better.

“This is probably one of the best turnouts we have had.

“We knew Weymouth was really embracing the jubilee weekend and we wanted to be a massive part of that.”

A collection was also made in aid of the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund, to help the families of fishermen David McFarlane, Jack Craig and Robert Prowse.

The body of Mr McFarlane, 35, was recovered after a massive search and rescue operation in May after their fishing vessel, the Purbeck Isle, did not return to harbour.

The bodies of Mr Craig, 22, and Mr Prowse, 20, are still missing.

Almost 30 bands performed over three days with genres ranging between rock and acoustic.

Families and music fans from Dorset and beyond came to watch Weymouth’s home-grown talent.

Jeanette Palmer, from Southampton, visited with husband John.

She said: “We came to Weymouth as a bit of a spur of the moment decision and are really glad we did.

“The festival is fantastic.

“We had no idea it was on and did not expect anything like this, which makes it all the better.

“It really shows Weymouth off at its best.”

Martin Beckingham, who lives in Weymouth, is a regular at the Quayside festival with daughter Kirsty.

He said: “Every year it just gets bigger and better than ever before and there is always such a good atmosphere.”

Mr Treggiden added that his staff had worked “really hard”.

“The atmosphere at the whole festival has been immense.

“We’ve had families and children dancing around and it has not been spoiled at all by anyone being reckless,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the Dorset-based bands who made the event a success.

“The live music scene in Weymouth is massive and there really is some great talent.

“At least 90 per cent of the artists who performed are local, fresh talent, and a lot are new to the festival.

“That’s the great thing about Quayside – being able to showcase people and help to put their music out there.”