A VICTORIAN street fair held in honour of Thomas Hardy's birthday brought thousands to Dorchester.

Traditional period costumes were order of the day to celebrate the Dorset-born poet and author's 179th birthday.

He is famous for works including Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd – as well as poetry.

Traditional and folk music entertained the crowds, alongside performances by drama groups, maypole dancers and even a man on a Penny Farthing.

Locals and visitors jostled to get a taste of food, drink and cider offered by a variety of stalls – while Victorian games and a Punch and Judy show kept children happy.

Traditional craftsmen displayed some of the skills that would have been familiar to Hardy - including blacksmiths and stonemasons.

Dorchester town crier Alistair Chisholm - who is also a member of the Thomas Hardy Society - said the event went "extremely well".

"It was a fitting tribute from the town to a man who quite literally put Dorchester, Dorset and Wessex on the map", he said.

"It brought groups, businesses, the town council, museums and volunteer organisations together.

"It was good to see the whole town join in - the high street was teeming from top to bottom.

"For me it just showed what Dorchester can achieve - and what better common ground to bring everyone together than Thomas Hardy?

"Perhaps the only improvement would be if the man himself had been able to join us on his birthday - but I think he has reasonable grounds to be excused."

Wreaths were laid for Thomas Hardy and fellow Dorset poet William Barnes - a mentor and close friend of the author's - on their respective statues.

Andrew Leah, who is vice chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society, said a service was held on Sunday morning at St Michael's Church in Stinsford, where the author's heart is buried.

"The church features in his novels under the fictitious name 'Mellstock'.

Mr Leah said: "The street fayre was a joint effort - we feel it was very successful."

At the Hardy Society's stall children took part in a poetry and short-story writing competition - the results of which will be announced over the coming weeks.

Other events included a walk along a route near Hardy's Cottage on Saturday, and a talk by new academic director of the Hardy Society Dr Faysal Mikdadi, entitled 'Hardy in Translation' on the topic of translating Hardy's works into Arabic and French.