The history of a town will be celebrated when an all-new charter is signed.

Bridport Charter Fair is edging closer and a big focus of this year's event is the town's Rights Respecting status.

Earlier this year, Bridport Town Council proclaimed Bridport to be a Rights Respecting town and, after consultation, published a town Charter of Rights.

The town's original charter, securing Bridport’s borough status, was granted in 1253 by King Henry III to thank the town for providing the ropes that rigged his Men-O-War ships. This year, the fair will celebrate the launch of a much more recent charter.

Bridport is the first town in the country to become a Rights Respecting Town following the city of York last year.

The charter highlights the rights and responsibilities shared by all and its aim is to allow all town citizens to better understand the rights they hold, and to tie these into responsibilities that sit alongside them.

The approach to becoming Rights Respecting was initiated by the town’s Minerva Trust schools, which aims to ensure all rights held by children.

David Powell, charter fair committee member and former headteacher, said: "A Rights Respecting school develops a school community that has an underpinning set of values, held by all children across the world.

"The community understands how to behave like responsible young citizens, treating all others with respect.

"These values are captured in a school and classroom Charter of Rights and Responsibilities that all sign up to, and all can refer to as they grow.

"Our young people are keen to promote this approach across our town. They have worked with the town council, and others, to promote the development of a town charter."

There is a particular poignancy this year, organisers say, regarding the rights we all hold.

Committee chairman, Arthur Woodgate, said: "They were born out of the two 20th Century World Wars.

"They are a tangible positive outcome of the sacrifice made by millions who laid down their lives in those wars at a time when we commemorate the centenary of the end of First World War.

"The United Nations was formed from the chaos at the end of the Second World War with the recognition that to solve the great global challenges humanity faces we need to seek global solutions, not revert to nationalism and isolation.

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights followed in 1948. By declaring itself a Rights Respecting town, Bridport honours the sacrifice that so many made during conflict."

Bridport mayor, Cllr Barry Irvine, says he is 'fully behind' the Rights Respecting Town initiative and the charter fair. He said: "The fair provides a wonderful opportunity for the town to come together to both celebrate our history and Bridport in the 21st Century; a vibrant, colourful and caring place to live."

There will be an information stall at this years charter fair and the new town Charter of Rights will be displayed alongside our original charter.

The deadline is approaching for the charter fair’s photography competition. Entry forms are available from the TIC, Arts Centre, the charter fair's Facebook page or email charterfairphotocomp@hotmail.com Closing date for entries is today (Sunday, August 5).

Bridport Charter Fair will take place on Saturday, September 29.