Weymouth harbour hosted tens of thousands of visitors over the weekend for the Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival.

More than 100 trade stalls lined the streets of the town and there were cooking demonstrations as well as live music.

However, not everybody was in a celebratory mood at the festival.

Climate activists from local Extinction Rebellion groups organised a protest against the fishing industry and the problems associated with overfishing.

Despite one of the festival's main goals being to promote sustainable methods of fishing, the protestors staged a dramatic ‘Funeral for the Fishes’ procession through the streets of Weymouth during the festival.

The procession carried placards in the shape of coffins depicting the skeletons of the species that they say have been most affected by overfishing.

Emma Smart, Marine Biologist and Extinction Rebellion Coordinator, says: “We are in a climate crisis and facing ecological collapse- the time for denial and inaction is over.

"Today, in Weymouth, Extinction Rebellion are acting for the future of every single person here at the Seafood Festival, in Dorset, the UK and the world.

"We are here to ‘Tell the Truth’ about marine exploitation and species extinction, a huge part of a wider global emergency.”

Andy Smith, Extinction Rebellion Coordinator, added: “We are not here to spoil people’s fun, criticise their lifestyles or threaten their livelihoods, quite the opposite.

"Extinction Rebellion is acting to protect the future for friends and families to enjoy festivals and to safeguard the diminishing resources that local and global fishing communities rely on”

Brian Cooper, director of the festival, said he saw the protest but that it did not affect anybody's good mood or the size of the crowds.

"We do agree with them on some points like sustainable fishing," he said. "We just don't agree with their methods."