THOUSANDS of people flocked to Dovercourt seafront for the town’s first Beside the Seaside event.

Crowds enjoyed a day of live music, donkey rides, a sports day, open beach huts, sandcastle competition, and treasure hunt on Sunday.

The event has been hailed a huge success with hopes it can be held again next year.

Beside the Seaside was put on by the Harwich Festival of the Arts for Tendring Council and followed a similar event at Clacton earlier this year.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Peter Davis, artistic director of the festival, said: “We had a great line-up of bands and music – and there was plenty to attract all ages – but this was the busiest we have seen Dovercourt seafront in many years.

“The local traders that were open did extremely well and it was a great community day which brought so many people together. It was a definite success.

“Everything got started at 11am and went right through to 9.30pm when the last band finished playing to the crowds.”

He added: “We may need to tweak a few things if we run the event again, but overall I think everyone was delighted with the day.

“I have already heard that the heritage hut had one of its busiest days ever.”

Braintree and Witham Times:

The Essex Rocks stage, funded by Essex Community Foundation, Harwich Town Council, and Tendring Council, was set up on the Low Road Playing Field.

The headline act was Monster Florence, who recently featured on BBC’s Radio One Introducing with their new single Anne Boleyn.

Secret Beach Huts’ were another feature of the day with beach huts hosting Dramatic Pause, Limitless Dance Crew, a pop-up pub, Dovercourt Theatre Group and storytellers for children.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Mick Skeels, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for leisure, said: “It was all about a mixture of modern and good old-fashioned seaside entertainment.”