THREE of Lyme's most iconic figures - Mary Anning, Jane Austen and the French Lieutenant's Woman - have been hijacked and given a raunchy rock and roll makeover.

It is all part of a multi-media campaign launched at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival today to promote the Guitars on the Beach record-breaking attempt.

Visitors to the festival will be welcomed by a poster plastered across a bin of Mary Anning dressed in thigh-high boots Other posters appeared at The Three Cups and at the Post Office bus stop.

Guitars On The Beach is the record-breaking attempt to have 2,000 guitarists simultaneously playing Buddy Holly's 'Rave On' on Lyme's Front Beach on September 7.

The Mary Anning and Jane Austen costumes were borrowed from the town museum and loaned to Natalie Manifold, of Lyme Literary Tours, who regularly appears in the costumes to promote the town's festivals and events.

Guitars On The Beach public relations officer Geoff Baker said the poster campaign would also be run across all social media.

"This is not bringing history into disrepute, everybody has always wondered what Mary Anning wore under her frumpy dress," he said.

So far Guitars On The Beach has attracted around 600 guitarists from all over Britain, who have joined what its organisers are calling 'Britain's Biggest Band'.

For more information visit guitarsonthebeach.co.uk