A POPULAR Wimborne festival brought more than £1 million into the town last year, research has revealed.

The 2017 Wimborne Minster Folk Festival boosted the local economy by an estimated £1.02m, according to a report commissioned by the town's business improvement district (BID) team.

The figure was calculated based on the number of people who attended the event - around 20,000 - each of whom spent, at a conservative estimate, £50.

In addition, the report analysed evidence from a BID survey aimed at levy payers, a survey of stallholders and findings from a visitor survey.

The BID team commissioned professional strategic analysis company NJSE to carry out the research into the economic impact of the event.

A number of festivals and activities were assessed. The folk festival gave the town the biggest financial boost of the year.

Chair of the BID Ian Faulkner said: "Wimborne BID commissioned NJSE to conduct this report so that we could assess the impact of the festivals we have invested in this year.

"The report has given reasonable evidence to suggest that festivals, including the folk festival, have had a positive economic impact on Wimborne as we had aimed to achieve.

"Some valuable questions have also been raised from this report which will help us to ensure that future festivals are even more beneficial to the town."

Mr Faulkner said festivals attract an influx of visitors on a short-term basis.

Local businesses and organisations benefit from partnerships created during festivals, he added.

The rebranded Wimborne Minster Folk Festival first took place in 2013. Previously, it was known as the Wimborne Folk Festival, an event which launched in 1980. The two festivals have been organised and curated by different committees.

This year's festival will take place on June 8, 9 and 10.