IT'S A case of all hands to the press ahead of a new fundraising event for Dorchester.

Dorchester Round Table is putting on its inaugural cider festival, a free event in the Borough Gardens on Saturday, August 15.

There will be more than 50 varieties for cider fans to choose from and much more for everyone to enjoy on the day.

Neil Corbett from the Round Table said they had already lined up a dozen different producers of ciders and perries to showcase at the event and music from the likes of the Stompin Dave Allen Trio, The Lanterns, male shanty choir The Wrecks and Mick O'Toole from Bristol, which describes itself as a cider punk band.

Children will be able to enjoy a bouncy castle and other entertainment while dogs are also welcome.

Visitors are also unlikely to go hungry with a range of local food on offer including a hog roast as well as crepes, ice cream, cakes and wood fired pizza.

Neil said the best bit about the day was that all those enjoying the cider, music and other entertainment will also be doing their bit for the various causes supported by the Round Table.

He said: "Everyone who is attending is making a contribution to Dorchester Round Table and the local causes we support."

The event follows the successful Party in the Park carnival warm-up event organised by the Round Table.

Neil said the organisation wanted to thank Dorchester Town Council for once again providing the Borough Gardens as a venue for the event as well as sponsors such as Sam Scaffolding.

The festival has also been backed by the Mill House Cider Museum at Owermoigne, which will be selling some of its ciders on the day as well as running cider making demonstrations.

Neil said some of the other favourite ciders already confirmed for the event include Lulworth Skipper, Sandford Orchards, Dorset Nectar, Dorset Star, West Milton Cider, The Weymouth Cider Company, Bridge Farm Cider and Cranborne Chase.

He added that around 1,000 people had already confirmed they would be attending the event on Facebook, but he recognised the weather on the day would be a key factor in how many people turn out for it.

Neil said the Round Table was keen to make the event a regular occasion and urged people to come and support it whatever weather.

He said: "It's our fist ever Dorchester Cider festival and we're looking to put it on the map as a great day out for cider drinkers, families and party goers alike.

"We think that giving our guests the chance to meet the cider producers, chat to them and buy directly from them will make for a really enjoyable and interesting day."