A well-loved community festival brought out thousands to enjoy the food, music and of course cider.

Dorchester Cider Festival, organised by Dorchester Round Table, returned to the Borough Gardens on Saturday, August 19.

The Borough Gardens was packed, with thousands taking a seat on chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the festivities and two stages of live music.

This year organisers hope to have attracted around 5,000 people and sold just as many cups, and it is hoped to have raised as much as £15,000 this year.

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Paige Harlow attended with her daughter Harlow and husband Harrison. Her daughter Harlow enjoys dancing to the live music being played on the bandstand. Paige said: "We love it. We came last year as well. It is a really nice atmosphere, it's free, and it's for charity."

Dorset Echo:

Mike Solway will be marrying his bride-to-be Kerri in October and they decided to hold a joint stag and hen do - a sten do - at the festival. He said: "We are down here to celebrate getting married in Jamaica in October. This festival is a community get-together in a beautiful garden with great bands and a pretty environment."

Dorset Echo: Mike Solway with his 'sten do', he is in orange and blue on the left sideMike Solway with his 'sten do', he is in orange and blue on the left side (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Holly Bailey attends most years with her family and friends. She said: "It is nice to bring kids, they can have a runaround and they love the live music."

Ryan Whincop travels from Wool to enjoy the festival. He said: "I like the music and the community spirit. We come early so we could get a spot."

Rebecca Pope was attending the event for the first time. She said: "It is lovely that Dorchester does this kind of thing. There is a real local feel, I keep seeing people I know its great."

Chris Gear travelled all the way from Bournemouth for the event. He said: "I always find its like a community do out and whole town comes out has a drink and a great time."

Dorset Echo: Chris Gear (second from left) travelled from Bournemouth for the festivalChris Gear (second from left) travelled from Bournemouth for the festival (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Treasurer of the Dorchester Round Table, Adam Salkeld said: "It is really good. It seems to be quite busy.

"This year we have picked a main charity which is the Blood Bikes. They use bikes to transport blood, platelets and samples from hospitals. They are hoping to get a new bike and we will be donating a large chunk of our earnings to them this year.

"I would like to thank the council and the borough gardeners, they put a lot of effort into the gardens and we really appreciate them letting us use this venue."

Dorset Echo: Adam SalkeldAdam Salkeld (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The first Dorchester Cider Festival & Perry in The Park took place in the gardens in 2015.

The event’s origins stem back to a casual conversation between members of Dorchester Round Table suggesting that the county town could do with a Cider Festival where all the great local producers could showcase their drinks.

Six years later, the event is attended by roughly 4,000 people and has so far raised over £30,000 for local causes since the festival began.

All profits from Dorchester Cider Festival are donated to local good causes and charities.