Britain's biggest guitar festival is set for the stage in a salute to rock legends lost in 2017.

More than 1,000 amateur guitarists are expected to gather in Lyme Regis for Guitars on the Beach, when an enormous tribute band will form as a mark of respect to icons who influenced generations.

The huge band will be made up of guitarists of all ages and abilities who will come together to simultaneously perform a set of the hits by those who changed the sound of music.

A spokesman for Guitars on the Beach said: “We’re making this one big tribute show this year because without the influence of the genius guitarists whom we lost last year many of us would never have picked up the instrument in the first place.

“There will also be special tributes to Buddy Holly, to mark the 60th anniversary of the release of Rave On, and a big nod to another much-missed guitar legend, Rory Gallagher.

“We’ll be picking songs by these heroes that are easy to play along to so that both novice and accomplished guitarists can all join in the tribute and we are aiming to attract at least 1,000 people to perform together on the day.”

The selected songs will be announced shortly on the event’s website – guitarsonthebeach.com – and its Facebook page, Guitars On The Beach Lyme Regis UK Record Bid.

Organisers are also to shortly reveal details of a fundraising drive to raise the £6,000 needed to hire a stage and sound system for the event.

Among the plans for the hugely-popular annual fixture, at which bands from all over the UK traditionally vie to perform to a crowd of thousands, will be an auction through which the highest bidder will get to play with the house band at the climax of the day-long festival.

This year, at least 11 bands will play on the day, performing a variety of pop, rock, reggae, ska, blues, folk and jazz. The house band this year is made of young musicians from the Woodroffe School and has three new members.

Organisers say GOTB is going back to an old seaside-style of fun and will include a ‘become an instant rock star’ selfie sideshow.

As always, the group play-along and record bid will take place at about 4pm.

Those attending this year are encouraged to bring flags as a documentary will be made about the event.

The Charmouth Road park and ride will be up-and-running for GOTB and the last bus will be at 7.30pm.

Guitars on the Beach will take place on Saturday, June 16.