Bridport celebrated mental health and wellbeing awareness with a two-day festival.

The event, ‘And Breathe…Bridport’, took place on Monday, October 9 and Tuesday, October 10, at multiple locations across the town.

The festival saw more than 50 health and wellbeing-focused activities on offer and was organised by Harmony's drop-in centre and Bridport and the town council.

There were displays in the Town Hall from 19 local health and wellbeing organisations including Dorset MIND, Live Well Dorset and Re Think Dorset.

A showing of the play Around The Mind In 80 Days rounded events off on Monday.

The play is about real life stories, created and performed by those with experience of mental illness.  

Bridport Museum offered a free tour and activities for anyone in the area on Tuesday.

Tuesday also saw Harmony's allotment hold an open day and wreath-making in nature event, as well as a boxercise class at the Bridport Leisure Centre to ‘fight back’ against mental health.

Jo Sadler of Forged n Willow, who carried out the weaving classes said: "I was delighted to be involved as it is close to my own experience in life.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

"Our opportunity to tell our own story or to hear someone's whilst they are relaxed and feel safe in the workshop environment is invaluable," she added. 

Tuesday night saw the culmination of the festival with the Electric Palace rocking out to a concert, called Exhale, from local rapper Isaiah Dreads, Bridport-based the Skalatans and Ladies of the Lawn.

Isaiah Dreads said: "It was so good to play the And Breathe event at the Electric Palace, especially for such a good cause which I hold close to my heart.

"It felt a bit nostalgic being on stage, because the last time I played the venue I supported (rapper) Devlin on his tour in 2011.

"I loved being apart of the evening with Harmony," he added. 

There were also talks explaining the different stages of grief and how domestic abuse affects mental health.

A slideshow of photographs sent in by members of the public celebrating something they are grateful for was displayed in the evening. 

Cllr Dave Bolwell, Mayor of Bridport, said: "I am really pleased to be associated with this important wellness event.”

A spokesperson for the event said that the event was ambitious, and the organisers have learnt about what works well and what doesn't work well as they teased an event next year. 

They said: "This is the kind of event that gains popularity and the best part was that with all the events on offer, there really was something for everyone. 

"Wellness is such an important topic in our lives- you have to take time to look after your mental health as well as your physical health."