THE autumn Swanage Blues Festival attracted bumper crowds to the seaside town, organisers say.

This year’s event, which boasted more than 60 shows by 40 bands at 15 different venues, came to an end earlier this month.

Organiser Steve Darrington told the Advertiser: "We've had record turnouts, everybody has had a great time. I couldn't have asked for more.

"I'm sitting outside the Mowlem Theatre where the buskers are making themselves at home and we've got blues skies and sunshine.The town is buzzing, I think this is one of the best attended we've had - it is certainly very, very busy.

"We had fifteen packed venues and people were dancing in the streets as well."

Steve, alongside pals Hugh Budden and Robert Hokum, kicked off the four-day festival at Swanage Legion on Thursday.

Other venues included Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, Grand Hotel, Sea Breeze Restaurant, Tawny’s Wine Bar, the railway station and most pubs.

Bands and artists who appeared included 3 Buck Shirt, Anita Jardine, Backwater Roll Blues Band, Blue Touch, and the Fabulous Fezheads.

Steve said: “We've had well over one thousand people.

"But, of course, this isn't just something that people come along to just for the music.

"We have people come along to see the bands in the evening, but during the day they visit the beach or the steam train.

"We relied completely on people buying support wristbands for £10, and what is lovely is there has been so much honesty. There is nothing that forces people to buy a support wristband. But if they don't buy them, the festival just ends like that. It is nice to have something that works that is based on honesty."

As in previous years, the festival also included regular open mic sessions and street buskers around town.

Steve said: "This is a big party and many of the people have made friendships over the years, a lot of them are between the bands and the staff that work in the venues, as well as the fans themselves.

"Some of the musicians have been sitting in with each other. There's been a lot of pick and mix going on. I cannot go into too much detail, but I'm working on something for June next year."