Members of the committee responsible for one of the town’s wackiest events will see the memory of their former chairman live on through the festival.

Bridport Hat Festival’s chairman Sheena Iveson died in September after a battle with bowel cancer.

Her friends and fellow committee members want Sheena’s memory to continue in the one-day festival with a new competition and a donation to charity.

Brian Atkinson, who was chairman of the committee last year, said: “In memory of Sheena, conforming to her family’s wishes, we are going to make a donation to bowel cancer research, we’re going to give £200.

“Also, we are going to inaugurate next year, the ‘best hat fest photograph’ competition to be named after Sheena. This will be done on the website where you can upload photographs and an independent adjudicator will judge the best one.”

Member Jacqui Lovett stepped in as chairman this year and said Sheena’s death had ‘hit the committee very hard’.

She thanked everyone who had helped and gave support, otherwise the festival ‘wouldn’t have got off the ground this year’.

As a result of the annual event, £500 was raised for Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust and Brain Tumour Research, as well as £100 for No Limits Bridport.

Jacqui also reported that due to her affiliation with the Rotary Club of Brit Valley, £600 would also be donated from money raised at the tea tent to Dementia UK, her president’s charity this year.

Committee members, charity representatives, supporters and volunteers of the event came together at The Ropemakers pub recently for the cheque giving.