GOGGLEBOX star Tom Malone was one of dozens of contestants to 'throw down' on day one of Bournemouth's biggest hip hop extravaganza.

B-Town Throwdown, now in its sixth year on the Pavilion balcony, sees some of the top hip hop dancers from the UK and abroad travel to Bournemouth for the weekend to battle it out in front of hundreds of fans.

The four-day annual event started yesterday with an afternoon of hip hop Vile Style battles with some of the contestants taking part as young as six-years-old.

More than a hundred onlookers watched as contestants kicked, flipped and spun on their heads to music from the Vile Funk Band.

There were three separate competitions for 'young guns', solos and crews.

Felix Clements, 18, travelled from Reading to battle it out in the solo competition.

Speaking to the Echo Felix, whose hip hop name is B-Boy Felix the Cat, said: "I've been here a couple of times before and it's such a great event.

"It allows all us dancers to come together and perform, have fun and learn from each other.

"There's always a great atmosphere here and while it's a competition there's always a big cheer when someone pulls off an incredible move."

Organised by Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) in collaboration with All Elements, a charity which promotes hip hop culture in Dorset, the event also includes workshops and masterclasses as well as a day of 'popping' battles today, Monday.

The return of the very popular Breakin’ Convention will be the grand finale on Wednesday.

Joel Cottrell, producer at PDSW, said: "This year has definitely been one of our biggest and best so far.

"The stage is much bigger than in previous years and thankfully the weather has been wonderful.

"It's an event that just keep growing in popularity.

"Despite what people expect we have actually had a really strong hip hop culture in Bournemouth since the 1980s.

"There's a real kind of joyfulness to hip hop and break dancing and these dancers absolutely love what they do.

"It's about bringing your own style to it and just showing off what you can do and some of these younger kids are amazing."

For more information call Pavilion Dance South West on 01202 203630 or visit www.pdsw.org.uk