A CHARITY rugby festival held on Weymouth Beach celebrated its biggest event to date.

Quickfest returned for its third successive year and it was bigger and better than ever before.

This year's event was slimmed down to one day instead of two but there were double the number of participants and spectators.

A total of 24 teams took part in the event, organised by Weymouth Rugby Club, and this year also saw the change from full contact to touch rugby.

The Flying Pigs of Yeovil won the competition, with two Weymouth teams filling up the rest of the podium.

Festival organiser, Mark Graham, said: "It was absolutely brilliant a really successful event. Everyone enjoyed themselves and we made a fair few quid for our charity as well."

Quickfest is held in memory of Julian Quick, who died from cancer in 2015 aged 28. All proceeds from the event go towards Weldmar Hospicecare, which provided Julian with care up until his death.

Mr Graham said: "Julian's family were there again this year so it was great to see them, they fully support the whole event.

"We presented Weldmar with a cheque for £2,000 which was last year's takings from the previous event. This year's weekend looks like it raised at least three or four thousand so double the size.

"We doubled the whole event this year with double the people and it was a massive success for us and the town as well.

"We actually had to turn away ten teams this year and about 100 spectators because we had no more room. Next year we are hoping to grow it to about 40 teams because the demand is clearly there."

The change to the touch rugby format was embraced by participants. It made the event more accommodating so people of all ages, abilities and genders could take part. There were teenagers and people in their 50s and 60s joining in the fun.

"There was some really great rugby to watch," Mr Graham said.

"We are definitely going to come back next year, 100 per cent."