FOOD, drink and crafts were celebrated at the eighth annual Spring Tide Festival.

The two-day event at Hive Beach, saw thousands flock to the National Trust event to get a bite of the action.

After some iffy weather on Saturday, organisers were pleased with typical spring conditions on Sunday as visitors enjoyed entertainment and a host of stalls run by local producers and makers.

Organiser Sarah Kennedy, National Trust outdoor experience ranger, said: “It was a very successful event.

“We had a few thousand visitors and huge thanks go to everyone who made it such an amazing event.

“The idea has always been to promote and raise awareness of local producers, whether that’s food, drink or artisan crafts and showcase the location of Hive Beach on the Jurassic Coast.”

She added: “We also do it to raise awareness of the work the National Trust does in west Dorset.

“Sometimes in this area, people are not aware of the National Trust or what we do. There’s a huge amount of access to the coastline and countryside. I think this event just links visitors with food, drink, artisan crafts and the landscape surrounding us.”

Ms Kennedy paid tribute to a “fantastic band of volunteers” who help made the event a success and gave particular thanks to volunteer project manager Caz Richards and Katharine Wright and her team at Dorset Food and Drink.

Ms Richards said: “As ever, it’s the amazing Spring Tide stall holders, musicians, entertainers with their fabulous produce, displays, products, art, craft and lashings of panache that make the event so vibrant.

“The relaxed atmosphere and buzz as you walked into the producers marquee and festival site was brilliant, so huge thanks to them for making everything so welcoming.”

Plans are already in place for the event to return in 2018.