A community has spoken and the message is clear; people want to see the return of a car boot sale which raises thousands of pounds a year for charity.

West Dorset District Council (WDDC) launched a consultation into a weekly car boot sale held at the West Bay Road car park, West Bay, in May.

The results, published this week, reveal strong support for the event, proceeds from which go to local charities and organisations.

It means the car boot sale will return to West Bay Road on Sunday.

The survey received 457 responses and participants were asked whether or not an alternative location would work well; 39 per cent said no, 18 per cent said yes and 43 per cent were open to the idea – but more than half of those would prefer the car boot to remain in West Bay.

The survey found that if the car boot sale stopped raising funds which are then distributed to local community projects, 74 per cent would see it as a ‘big loss’ to the local area.

And there was good news for other businesses in the area as 81 per cent said they normally visit other shops in West Bay and Bridport when visiting the car boot sale.

Dawn Newberry, who is involved in the car boot sale, said: "It is good to see a valuable asset retained.

"Everyone that I have seen have been upset by the whole episode."

Grant Mulry, who regularly attends the car boot sale, said: “It should never been in any doubt. It’s a brilliant social hub for all concerned. Why anyone ever thought it was okay to stop the boot sale defies belief. The amount of money raised for charity locally is fantastic.

“Thank goodness the powers that be saw sense. I shall look forward to the car boot returning on Sunday.”

Cllr Keith Day, chairman of the Bridport Area Car Boot Fund Panel, said he was ‘extremely pleased’ at the car boot sale’s return.

“This was the right thing to do for everyone,” he said.

WDDC’s original plan was to use the results of the survey to form the basis of report to take to a meeting of its strategy committee in July.

However, since then, Bridport Town Council has expressed an interest in taking over the running of the car boot sale.

Cllr John Russell, WDDC portfolio holder for environmental protection and assets, said: "The beautiful and historical West Bay area is quite rightly a very popular tourist attraction and a valued community asset.

"In order for us to best support the economy of the town, we have carried out extensive work in upgrading our car parks to provide a better, eco-friendly surface and re-considered the layout of car parks to provide additional spaces, more than 40 of them.

"However, the demand on our parking capacity is still really high, especially in the summer and at weekends. We have all read the results of the survey and have concluded to keep the car boot sale in its current position for the rest of the season. We are working closely with the town council to enable the car boot sale to prosper and flourish under their management. It's clear that the car boot sale is a well-loved local pastime for a Sunday morning."

The car boot is set to reopen this Sunday and will remain in its current location until October.

Cllr Sarah Williams, leader of Bridport Town Council, said: "It does appear that there is a clear majority of respondents who wish the car boot sale to continue and to remain in West Bay.

"It is pleasing therefore that it will be re-opening and we will be working with the district council to consider the options for its future management."