Bridport Folk Festival was back in town last weekend - and it was hard to miss with thousands coming to enjoy music, dances and workshops.

Like many other events, it had to miss a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was a success with between 5,000 and 6,000 people attending over the weekend.

Organiser Chris Deacon said that there were some glitches and issues - such as some musicians and dance sides not being able to attend due to Covid reasons - and they made the decision to move the Saturday night concert to the Millennium Green to have it in the open air.

He said: "It was a tremendous success.

"The townspeople and those who came to the festival did so in great numbers, the ticket tally was between 5,000 and 6,000 over the weekend.

"It was a gamble, we knew what we were facing having moved the date twice and there were the obvious complications arising from that with regards to staffing, volunteers and venues.

"But the Facebook, website and emails have been teaming with messages of congratulations and wanting another one next year so the feel-good factor.

"There were glitches and where we did fall down I can only apologies for that.

"The bands were absolutely first class, the sound engineers and all the volunteers were absolutely superb and we work in very close harmony with Bridport Town Council. There is no other town council in the country which provides such moral and physical support. The people of Bridport are extremely fortunate."

He thanked all the volunteers, all those who attended, the photographers and businesses that supported the festival.

Chris added: "The TIC was its usual brilliant self, dealing with the ticket sales for workshops and concerts. The festival supporters who advertised or sponsored stages were key to the financial support required to put the festival on, given that last year's festival wasn't on so we decided at that point to donate our working capital to worthy causes during the pandemic, believing we could recoup those later in the year and spring this year, but of course that didn't happen.

"Local musicians very kindly busked for us and were kind enough to donate their proceeds, we are eternally grateful, but the key factors in the success of this are down to the festival team and the support of local businesses and townspeople.

"I can put on all the best bands in the world, but unless we have people come, it doesn't work, so we thank all those who came, supported and enjoyed, and for the residents of Bridport to be so patient with us and we apologise for any disruption caused."

It's not yet known how much the festival has raise.

Chris said: "Our ambition was to firstly cover expenses and recoup what we had lost and any excess to raise in respect of The Burrough Harmony Centre, being our beneficiary this year."

The festival received a lot of positive comments, such as it being a "friendly festival", "really well run" and a "great family vibe".

Chris added: "There are lots of people asking if it's going ahead next year - and the jury is still out on that one."

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