A HOST of family events have been announced to support this year's prestigious European Maritime Day.

Borough of Poole (BOP) successfully beat off strong competition from other European ports to host the EU event, which has since been folded into the wider Poole Maritime Festival - including the annual Poole Harbour Boat Show.

In the days following the UK's seismic decision to leave the European Union, the British Government and top Euro diplomats quickly made it clear the show would still be going on in Poole.

Now, with less than 100 days to go BOP has announced a number of other attractions - in addition to the Poole Park Taste of the South Festival reported in yesterday's Daily Echo - that will run alongside the Poole Maritime Festival.

These include:

A free three-day Seven Seas Festival encompassing world music, food and culture, set for Harbourside Park, Baiter, Poole.

Telescope, a theatre dining extravaganza based at The Kitchen, Poole Park, where guests can enjoy a three-course meal indoors, or an alfresco hamper, before watching a maritime history of Poole through the eyes of interplanetary visitors.

Interactive outdoor performances called 'Cargo' on Poole Quay.

Cllr Mohan Iyengar, Poole Maritime Festival cabinet member, said: "The Seven Seas Festival rounds off our week of business networking and conferencing in Poole, with a huge number of residents and visitors involved.

"The interest we've seen from event organisers for the family festival has been terrific and we now have a line-up which will really be worth going to."

The European Maritime Day conferences, taking place at the Lighthouse Theatre, Poole, on May 18 & 19 bring together hundreds of maritime experts for what is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe.

The Poole Harbour Boat Show will run from May 19 until May 21.

Telescope takes place from May 17-21; the Cargo performances on May 18 and 20; Taste of the South, Poole Park, May 19-21; and the Seven Seas Festival from May 19 until May 21.

Visit poolemaritimefestival.uk for further details of all these events.