THE BRIDPORT Hat Festival will be returning this autumn.

The Bridport Hat Festival has been given the green light and will return to the town on Saturday, September 4.

The wacky and wonderful celebration of hats was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and organisers were unsure whether they would be able to bring the event back this year.

However, it has been confirmed that the event will take place in September and organisers cannot wait to see the 'wonderful creations' people have to offer.

The event will be scaled back this year and will be take place wholly on the Millennium Green. South Street will not be closed as in previous years. Music, a licensed bar and catering provided by Brit Valley Rotary Club will all take place on the Millennium Green.

Brian Atkinson, treasurer of the festival, said: "We are delighted to bring this event back this year - it is always so much fun.

"It will be smaller than in previous years so it will be more like a garden party. Normally the whole town is full of people wearing their hats and we are hoping that will be the same this year, but we won't be advertising the event as much as we don't want the town to be overwhelmed.

"We will, of course, abide by any restrictions that are in place at the time and, if things take a turn for the worse, we will have to cancel but hopefully it won't come to that.

"We hope people make their wonderful creations and hopefully they will be respectful with everything that has happened in the past year."