Thousands of visitors flocked to a village to celebrate the start of trade unionism at the weekend.

The annual Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival got underway in the village on Friday.

The sun shone as residents and visitors alike paid tribute to the six agricultural workers who were exiled to Australia in 1834 after forming a union.

This year, the festival boasted an impressive line-up of speakers, including the return of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

On Sunday, a wreath laying service was held at the parish church in memory of James Hammett, the only worker to return to Tolpuddle following his exile and subsequent pardon.

A number of descendants of Mr Hammett gathered to place flowers on his grave.

Kathy Claxton discovered she was related to Mr Hammett after completing her family tree.

She said: “We are really proud, we had no idea of our heritage until around 2006, which is really strange because I was brought up in Dorset and didn’t learn about the Tolpuddle Martyrs.“We are really proud and hope to carry on the tradition. We get greeted every year, it’s always quite humbling.”

Mr Corbyn paid tribute to the Tolpuddle Martyrs by laying a wreath on behalf of the Labour Party.

The ceremony concluded with a performance from Red Notes Choir from Bristol, which performed songs including Tolpuddle Man.

A procession then took place along the main road which runs through the village.

Trade union branches, political parties and environmentalists came together with their banners held high.

Barry Thompson, chairman of Dorchester and District Labour Party said: “Today we have come to carry the banner because we felt it was important for Dorchester because Tolpuddle is in our district.

“It’s important to commemorate the Tolpuddle Martyrs because it’s out of trade unionism that the Labour Party was formed, so it’s very important for us in Dorset. I’m proud to be carrying this banner.”

The procession was followed by the afternoon speakers.

Mr Corbyn said: “Thank you all for being here today on this amazing celebration of working class life and culture in honour of what the Tolpuddle Martyrs did to bring about our freedoms in the future.

“In their memory think of what we have achieved; the National Health Service, our strong trade unions, that sense of solidarity, that sense of internationalism and global solidarity.

“But also, in their memory, go forward together united and strong to defeat this government, to defeat those that would divide our society and force a future generation of today’s young people into poverty and misery, whilst the richest get the best they can.

“It’s up to us to act in their memory to achieve something different and something better in the future.”