MORE than 1,000 music fans packed out Swanage's pubs and clubs over the weekend for the town's popular Blues Festival.

More than 40 acts played the event this year, which took place at 17 different venues.

Artists this year included Billy Boy Miskimmin and Amy Mayes.

Organiser Steve Darrington told the Echo: "We've got a lot of happy people here. An interesting bit of data I've got back from the online booking s that 70 per cent of people booking have been here before, and the remaining 30 per cent are brand new. So that's quite an interesting balance."

The four-day event came to an end last night, with a number of gigs across town.

Steve said: "I love the festival because I cannot travel so easily nowadays. But who should I bump into at the weekend? A guy I haven't seen for 45 years - the agent for my professional band back in Birmingham in 1972."

Steve's blues band, Brewer's Droop, included a stint by guitarist Mark Knopfler, who went onto co-found the rock band Dire Straits.

Steve: "It has been marvellous to see so many people coming back, making friends and bringing their friends along.

"The festival is a great boost to the town's economy at a time of the year when businesses need visitors coming in, because it is a long old time to Easter this year, and even longer to the summer."

Steve said all the bands went down really well.

"We were particularly fortunate this year to have Billy Boy Miskimmin," said Steve. "Now he's currently in the Yardbirds and has played with BB King and The Doors. He even played at Bruce Willis' wedding.

"He moved to Dorset a couple of years ago, and had some Dorset lads in his band."