The spirit of trade unionism was alive and well in Dorset this weekend as revellers flocked to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival.

Thousands of people descended on the small village of Tolpuddle to commemorate the foundations of the trade union movement.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of six agricultural workers who were exiled to Australia in 1834 after forming a union.

Their sentence sparked massive protests across the country – eventually earning them a pardon and is seen as the start of the trade union movement.

The festival kicked off on Friday and crowds enjoyed music, entertainment, poetry and political debate in the sunshine.

On Sunday, the event culminated in a large procession of union members through the village – led by leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn and a variety of rousing speeches.

Main speaker Mr Corbyn addressed the crowds and said he had been coming to Tolpuddle for many years and each year the festival got bigger and better.

“I want all of our young people to grow up understanding that those brave people, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, risked their lives for the liberties of all of us,” he said.

“They are part of our national story. They are part of our lives. They founded the basis of trade unions and unions rights. Never underestimate the power of ordinary people doing utterly extraordinary things and bringing about great change.”

Also taking to the stage was singer-songwriter and west Dorset resident, Billy Bragg.

“I come whenever I can,” said Mr Bragg. “It’s got a lovely vibe, it’s very relaxed and compact. For the left, in a place like Dorset it’s nice to feel like you are not alone.

“Certain people want you to believe that no one else cares and nothing will ever change but coming to an event like Tolpuddle, it reminds us that’s not true.

Mr Bragg added Dorset’s ‘radical’ history went a long way to challenging stereotypes of the countryside.

“The first great campaign was here in this village, in our county and I’m very proud of that. What happened here has ramifications for all of us,” he said.

Sunday also saw a wreath-laying service at St John’s Church by the grave of James Hammett – the only martyr to settle again in Tolpuddle.

The service was opened with a performance from the Red Notes choir, who sung ‘We Will Be Free’ and ‘Tolpuddle Man’.

Trade union members, including Unite, NASUWT and TUC and representatives from the martyrs’ families and the church laid wreaths to pay homage to the six men.

Mr Corbyn said he was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the Labour Party at the annual event.

He said: “We must never forget their sacrifice. Because of these six men we have a trade union movement not just in the UK but all over the world.”

USDAW members, Val Main and Felix Courtier headed to the festival from north Devon.

“We came with quite a few people from different unions and we all feel very strongly. It’s so nice to see all the unions together,” Mrs Main said.

She added until she came to Tolpuddle she had never heard of the martyrs or the founding of trade unions.

“It’s such a great story and such a nice place. Now I think how could anyone not know about them – they were such a massive thing in history.”

Heather Meldrum, from Hastings, has been to the festival four times – the first time being 25 years ago.

She said: “I think the festival helps you get in touch with what you already know. And the march is very moving. It brings people together.”

She added the festival served to ‘re-inspire’ young people to get involved in the union movement.

Corbyn promises to protect rights of farmers and rural workers

Jeremy Corbyn promised to protect the rights of Dorset's farmers and rural workers.

Addressing the crowds at Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival on Sunday, Mr Corbyn said the Labour Party would boost the pay of rural workers by reinstating an Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for English Workers.

He said the AWB would: "bring decency to farmers, decency to rural workers and allow them to be properly paid. Our estimation is that £160 million has been lost in wages since the abolition of the AWB by underpayment.

Mr Corbyn said Labour's policies would go 'much further' in protecting worker's rights with the abolition of zero hours contracts and ensuring employees had 'full employment rights from day one of their employment.'

"We want to bring about a sense of justice and fairness in our society. that's what the Tolpuddle Martyrs risked themselves for that is what I want a Labour government to deliver when we have won a general election," Mr Corbyn said.

Mr Corbyn also promised to challenge 'grotesque levels of inequality and injustice' in the UK.

"Now somebody on an average income in Britain would have to work for 160 years to get the equivalent of one year's salary of the average CEO of any of our top 100 companies in this country," he said. "I think it's time we closed that pay gap, closed the gender pay gap and raised the minimum wage."

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Corbyn said Dorset and other rural communities had until now been neglected and there had not been a 'strong enough voice' advocating for them.

"The public view the countryside in a strange way. They see it as a nice place to visit and forget they are vibrant, living communities," he said.

Mr Corbyn said investment into infrastructure including transport and bus services and investment into housing was needed to help rural communities thrive.

"We don't want our young people to be driven away," he said.