THE summer season in Poole has been stretched from February to November with a stunning 60 event days to enjoy.

Launching Wave 105 FM’s Summertime in the South at the Custom House, Poole Tourism chairman Bruce Grant-Braham said the special events programme was the best yet.

“This is the longest summer on record, certainly on the south coast,” he said, and it included a number of new attractions this year for visitors and residents to enjoy, most of them free.

He ran through a list of delights, beginning with the Rally Sunseeker line-up on Poole Quay in February and ending with the spectacular firework display on November 5.

In between are the usual events of Summer Breeze, this year on the quay in July and Sandbanks in August, the bikers’ Dream Machines night on a Tuesday and Quay for My Car on Fridays, as well as Poole Pirates’ speedway.

New events include the first street arts festival on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4, a mini-steam day on May 22 on Poole Quay, and 10-day Beach Fest in July.

This will take place from July 9-18 at Sandbanks and will bring together the super-events of the British Beach Polo Championships, Football Focus and the Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival.

Arena activities include beach soccer, beach tag rugby and a music event, and schools and local groups will be taking part.

Events organiser Johnny Wheeler said: “There will be a feast of activities for all to enjoy on the spectacular blue flag beach throughout the week.”

June 19 sees Poole Afloat and Paye Day, ending with a mammoth firework display, and in September there is a Continental Street Market, Animal Poole Windfest and the Inside Out Arts Festival.

Coming up in October are the Poole Audi October Fest, a month-long food festival and the Poole Literary Festival.