A YOUTH music charity celebrated its 10th birthday in style as the Big Mix festival returned to Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis-based charity, B Sharp, held the celebration at the Marine Theatre on Saturday, marking a decade of success for helping youngsters become more creative.

Marcus Dixon, managing director of B Sharp, said: "The party was a great celebration of B Sharp's success over the last decade in building the creative capacity of more than 4,000 local young people, developing their skills, expertise and confidence.

"By growing young youth music leaders who over these years have invested their knowledge and know-how in those younger than themselves, has created the virtuous, self-perpetuating that is at the heart of B Sharp."

He added: "It's clear we are moving into a world that's being transformed by innovation and technology. A future where creativity is going to be as important as literacy. A place where B Sharp's proven ability to engage and inspire young people of all ages and backgrounds is going to be increasingly important.

"Picasso once said this, he said all children are born artists. The problem is how to remain an artist as we grow up. I believe this passionately. That we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it, or are educated out of it."

The event kicked off outside the theatre when DJs played tracks from the balcony. The doors opened at 6pm for a short film, music, pictures and presentation showing the past 10 years of the charity's work. The cabaret style evening included a line up of local young musicians and bands who had the opportunity to showcase some of the original music composed at the weekly B Sharp jams.

The new enterprise B Sharp house band, LaunchPad, performed before the headline act, The RPMs, hit the stage.

For more information, visit bsharp.org.uk