FOOD lovers are gearing up for the first ever Harbour Bites Festival which will land in West Bay this weekend.

The event will raise money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and showcase local producers and businesses.

Food and drink from across Dorset will be celebrated, along with live music, a produce market and a bar by Palmer's Brewery.

Organisers wanted to pay tribute to the air ambulance after the charity came to the rescue of a close friend.

Organiser Caroline Richards, from the Hive Beach Company, said: "Anything can happen, especially with all the crumbling cliffs in Burton Bradstock and West Bay.

"A good friend of one of the organisers had a stroke and had to be air-lifted by the helicopter, so that's where the inspiration came from."

The finishing touches are being put together to help ensure the first event is a success.

Caroline said: "We have had a very busy few days and everyone is getting excited about it now.

"There will be live music including from the Jurassic Ukulele group and Annabel Davies - and we're open to anyone who wants to perform as a busker, preferably acts who don't need to be plugged in.

"I think people like to know where their food has come from. At the Hive Beach Cafe and Watch House Cafe we use a lot of the fish caught locally.

"We couldn't have done this without the help of so many wonderful volunteers and we can't be thankful enough for their support."

Also on offer will be live demonstrations by Samways Fish Merchants, who will set up a pop up ‘fish theatre’ outside their West Bay shop at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4pm on both days.

Nick Bryant, from Samways, said: "Places for the 4pm demonstration will essentially be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the air ambulance.

We will probably have two or three different fish for them to try and fillet.

"It will also be an opportunity to show what can be done with small fish which often get thrown back into the sea, if people are unsure what to do with them. So there is a sustainability message to this all as well."

Organisers are hoping the West Bay cliffs will be the ideal backdrop for the festival, with a successful weekend possibly making the event a regular feature.

"We will see how it goes this year" added Caroline. "It is a great place to have a festival and hopefully the Broadchurch effect will help attract more people.

"We don't want to take on too much this year. Hopefully if people enjoy it and it is popular, we might look at doing it again."

The Harbour Bites Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm. For more information, visit harbourbites.co.uk