SWANAGE Jazz Festival may be taking place for the last time this year, but supporters of the event were out in force for the first full day.

Saturday's proceedings opened with the brass band parade and a host of eccentric colourful umbrella designs.

The parade danced down the seafront before gathering near the Mowlem Theatre alongside Dave Brennan's heritage jazz band - with Swanage town mayor Cllr Mike Bonfield and deputy mayor Cllr Gail Green judging the umbrellas on display.

Mayor Bonfield admitted it was very difficult to pick a winner and said it was great to see so many people together with smiles on their faces in the town.

"It's nice and joyful, we all love it with so much colour. It's great to see everybody enjoying themselves," Mayor Bonfield said.

"The festival in some ways is an unknown, but it brings so many people of different ages because people love the variety of music.

"Now they do the modern music as well as traditional. Last night I was at the marquee and the age range was fantastic. You had people from 18 up to 80."

The three-day festival, which first took place in 1990, offers two marquees playing live music on Sandpit Field, performances in the Methodist Church and events at various locations throughout the town.

The future of the event is in doubt, however Mayor Bonfield hoped to see it return next year.

Fred Lindop, artistic director of the festival, said: "It's an open question on whether the festival takes place next year. This year is certainly the last one to be organised by the current committee.

"The event has been hugely successful. We've sold out of tickets and had people turning up who we've had to unfortunately turn away."

The festival continues on Sunday, with the opening act on in the marquee at 10.15am - the Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra - and a service of gospel music in the Methodist Church from 10.30am.