TOP chefs are to appear in an extended Dorset Seafood Festival planned for the summer.

Mark Hix, Mat Follas, Pictured, John Wright, Lesley Waters and Russell Brown will be among the culinary stars at the harbourside extravaganza on July 13 and 14.

Dorset Echo:

But this year’s Dorset Echo backed festival also boasts an extended and diverse programme of events – including an outdoor screening of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with a live DJs and musicians providing the musical score.

The festival’s programme will continue into the evening this year with the help of b-side, Weymouth & Portland’s multi-media arts festival, delivering the cinema event.

Brian Cooper, festival committee member, said: “We recognise the importance of broadening the event’s offer and are committed to increasing its appeal.

“The b-side pop-up cinema event will allow visitors to enjoy the festival until the sun goes down and experience the uniqueness of the resort on a balmy summer evening.

“It’s also a highly relevant film, famous for its groundbreaking work in actual underwater photography.”

The festival has grown over the last five years to become one of the largest free seafood festivals in the country and one of the most successful events in the county.

During the two-day event Weymouth’s harbourside will be brought alive with more than 80 stalls creating a street food festival where seafood is freshly prepared in a variety of dishes.

Joining the conviviality will be Dorset chefs Mark Hix, Mat Follas, John Wright, Lesley Waters, Russell Brown and south west based chefs Richard Bertinet, Matt Cook and Duncan Lucas.

They will be demonstrating some of their favourite fish dishes on the festival’s famous demonstration stages.

The cinema screening will be sponsored by Weird Fish and for the third year running and Pommery Champagne is confirmed as the festival’s title sponsor.

Other confirmed sponsors include Roasting Plank and Cono Sur Wines.

All funds raised will go to The Fishermen’s Mission.

For more information visit dorsetseafood.co.uk Mission to help fishermen THE Fishermen’s Mission is the only fishermen’s charity that provides emergency support alongside practical and emotional care.

It helps all fishermen, active or retired, and their families.

It offers immediate assistance to the families of fishermen who have been killed or seriously injured.

It looks after the survivors of fishing boat accidents and helps injured or ill fishermen find medical help. It can also find emergency housing and food if necessary.

Volunteers also visit retired fishermen and their families at home or in hospital.

The charity also offers welfare and support to overseas fishermen, working in the UK fishing industry, especially those who live onboard boats.

It also provides Christian pastoral and practical help, including problems with debt, sickness, bereavement, family difficulties, debt and addiction problems.