A poignant mental health event attracted a remarkable turnout on Weymouth beach despite wind and rain.

Organisers of the Silence on the Sands evening said over 100 people attended the silent vigil, with residents sitting and standing together in solidarity for 30 minutes, before casting their woes into the waves by writing messages on pebbles.

The Silence on the Sands event went ahead despite adverse weather conditions, and was held as a way for anyone suffering with their mental health, or in need of company, to support each other without the pressure of holding a conversation.

As previously reported in the Echo, the idea was conceived by singer Billy Hutchinson, who is part of Weymouth band The Leggomen, with support from friends and the Boat Café.

Mr Hutchinson said he was pleased by the high turnout at the free event.

"It was very, very windy but the rain stopped about two minutes beforehand, so we were pretty lucky", he said.

"I was pretty terrified to begin with - I don't really know why - I don't mind standing up in front of large crowds of people when I'm singing, but for some reason this was different - I didn't really want to be in the limelight.

"Fortunately we had a lovely lady introducing the event, a humanist called Michelle Carpenter, and she was fantastic, her speech really chilled us all out.

"I've since had loads of nice messages on Facebook from people saying how much the event benefitted them."

Weymouth resident Sharon Martin went along to honour her son Aaron, who tragically passed away last February after suffering a heart attack on the seafront caused by bronchial pneumonia - just two weeks before his 37th birthday.

Ms Martin gave permission for the Echo to share pictures of the pebbles she and her family decorated in tribute to Aaron.

"I's been terribly difficult, not just for me, but for the whole family - the silence on the sands helped us tremendously", she said.

"It seemed quite fitting and special to have been part of this very beautiful event.

"He was my only child - he was my world."

Following the success of Silence on the Sands, Billy Hutchinson said he is hoping to arrange another gathering this summer.