ORGANISERS are urging fans to dig deep with donations this weekend to keep the Swanage Blues Festival as one of the south's biggest free music gatherings.

The ever-expanding event bursts into life once more on Friday, with three days of live music, from funk to ragtime, spread across 15 venues in Swanage.

Now into its eighth year, the festival has always remained a completely free affair but is totally reliant on donations to keep going.

Steve Darrington, the founder of the festival, is asking the thousands expected to pour into Swanage this weekend to keep showing their support.

He said: "I cannot continue to put on these festivals without the financial support, so I would ask people to be as generous as they can.

"Sadly at the last festival in October, over the whole weekend public donations averaged less than £1 per person.

"Although some people put in £10 or more, hundreds of people gave less than £1. Amazing, isn't it?"

Steve said he fears the festival may have also become a victim of its own success, with people struggling to find collectors with buckets due to the sheer weight of numbers in the venues.

This year's event shows no sign of flagging, however, and is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.

Visitors from around the world are expected once more and much of the town's accommodation has been booked up months in advance.

Heading the bill will be psychedelic funk outfit The Guv'nors, Irish slide guitarist Will Killeen and the boogie-woogie of the Jon Walsh Blues Band.

London veterans Sonny Black, Robin Bibi and Robert Hokum will also be showcasing their unique sounds.

For more information go online to the website, swanage-blues.org or visit the tourist information centre on the Swanage seafront.