THIS year's Bournemouth 7s Festival is expected to draw crowds in excess of 30,000, organisers say.

The sport and music event, which is backed by the Daily Echo, will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2017 - with some 400 rugby, netball, hockey and dodgeball teams flocking to Bournemouth over the late May bank holiday weekend.

Bournemouth 7s managing director Craig Mathie said: "This year's festival has a really special buzz, which is different to anything I have seen in the previous six years that I have been with Bournemouth 7s.

"I cannot wait to experience the tenth anniversary atmosphere and I know that all this hard work will seem more than worth it when the weekend comes around."

The three-day festival takes place at Bournemouth Sports Club, Chapel Gate, East Parley, from May 26.

Billed as the 'Sporting Glastonbury' the festival has established itself as a firm favourite in the south.

It boasts a dozen arenas, with 40 live acts and DJs. Last year's festival saw performances by Fatman Scoop and General Levy, and included a cocktail garden and a garage tent. And the cocktail garden and garage tent will be back this year, alongside many other attractions including the German beer tent, the main arena and the sports zone.

Already team places for the netball tournament have sold out, with the hockey and rugby not far behind.

An event spokesman explained: "The calibre of the teams attending and playing in the elite cups also gives cause to spark excitement - especially in the invitational Viper 10 National Cup, which is filled to the brim with recognisable names including the defending champions Apache, J9 Smashy Bears and Rugby For Heroes 7s."

Sixteen teams will be competing for the Bournemouth 7s Festival crown and the £2,000 first prize.

Visit bournemouth7s.com for tickets and further information.