ONLOOKERS were surprised as one of the most recognisable voices in TV and radio announced the lifting of Weymouth's Town Bridge.

Sir Terry Wogan took to the microphone at the bridge lifting office to warn people to 'stand clear of the barrier' as he visited the town yesterday.

He is was in the area filming for a new BBC TV programme about regional food and his visit to the resort followed an appearance in Dorchester on Monday.

Whilst at the bridge, Sir Terry took to the controls to lift the bridge to allow boats to pass underneath before making the announcement, which took a few people by surprise.

Earlier in the day, Sir Terry was at the Sandworld exhibit at Lodmoor as well as taking a trip across the harbour in a rowing boat.

He was filmed talking to Sandworld co-founder and director, Mark Anderson, for the programme.

Mr Anderson said of meeting Sir Terry: “He was really nice, just a gentleman, it was good fun as well.”

After filming at Sandworld, he went to the bridge for the midday lifting.

The trip wasn't without incident though, as at one point the car he was travelling in appeared to reverse into some boxes as it dropped him off at the bridge.

An onlooker said "A black car was trying to manoeuvre up the road opposite me, it then appeared to hit a pile of boxes being unloaded from a lorry near to the junction.

"I was quite surprised when Terry Wogan got out the back of the vehicle."

Jenny Williams, from Weymouth, went to to the bridge to catch a glimpse of the star.

She said: “It’s lovely to have him in the town. It’s nice that he’s come to Weymouth.

“I used to watch him when he used to be on Saturday night TV. It’s just lovely to see him.”

As well as his filming obligations, Sir Terry took time to shake hands and chat with some of the gathered crowd and also posed for photographs.

David Willoughby, who is holidaying in Weymouth with his family, got the chance to have a brief chat.

He said: “It’s not every day you see someone like this. He’s a lovely man.”

Sir Terry was spotted filming for the programme in Dorchester on Monday.

The programme sees him travelling around sampling British cuisine, whilst retracing the steps of Samuel Chamberlain’s travelogue British Bouquet.