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 on from a similar event at Clacton earlier in the summer.

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.”

Mr Davis added that in future he would look at having more food stalls.

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

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

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

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 special feature of the day.

My Happy Hut, which belongs to Anna Davies and won Britain’s Beach Hut of the year in 2016, hosted the Dramatic Pause players while My Hula Hut hosted the Limitless Dance Crew.

There were also beach huts featuring a pop-up pub, Dovercourt Theatre Group and storytellers for children.

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