A MONTH-LONG festival that will showcase Wimborne's businesses and community organisations will take place once again next month.

Discover Wimborne, a celebration of town life, will take place during April. Representatives from the town's business improvement district (BID) team have hailed the event as a "voyage of discovery".

Visitors will be encouraged to explore Wimborne through events and workshops.

Businesses will also give special promotions to customers.

Tammy Sleet, manager of the BID, said: "These are local traders who want to 'keep things local' but are very proud of what Wimborne has to offer, and want to bring that to the attention of a wider audience.

"As well as high street national names, Wimborne is home to many unique independent shops, which offer excellent service."

The festival was held for the first time last year. Tammy said traders hope to build on its success.

"This year's event will be bigger and better, and I'm delighted to see so many businesses and organisations working together," she said.

"Those who did take part in 2017 felt working together in collaboration made an enormous difference, and was a crucial factor in the event's overall success.

"They found that the engagement, communication and support exceeded their expectations."

Independent businesses including bakers, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, printers and travel specialists are based in Wimborne.

There are also heritage organisations and charity headquarters in the town.

Last year's Discover Wimborne festival divided the town into four 'zones' - shopping, food and drink, business and culture - and more than 3,000 visitors enjoyed the event.

Tammy said those who visited were encouraged to "discover Wimborne as a destination".

"We want to celebrate everything that our beautiful town has to offer," she said.

During the 2017 festival, there was live music, a town tour and craft stalls, as well as choir workshops, pottery classes and an ice cream tasting.