"PEOPLE need to let off some steam": Bridport's silliest and wackiest event is returning - and organisers reckon it will be an ideal opportunity for people to have fun as life returns to normal.

The Bridport Hat Festival is returning for the first time in two years with a garden party at the Millennium Green on Saturday, September 4. It's free and runs from 10am-4pm.

The wacky and wonderful celebration of hats was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and organisers were unsure whether they would be able to bring the event back this year.

However, it was confirmed in May that the event will take place.

The event has been scaled down this year and will be take place wholly on the Millennium Green. South Street will not be closed as in previous years.

However, organisers are confident next year a full festival will go ahead.

Brian Atkinson, organiser of the Bridport Hat Festival, said: "After the last year and a half, people need to let off some steam and put on some silly hats. They need to be able to enjoy some sense of normality.

"The event always demonstrates a sense of comradery and jovial nature throughout the town. When people put an outrageous hat on it breaks the ice and gives you a sense of social cohesion. I'm not sure why but I've seen it happen on many occasions now."

He added: "Everything has been so uncertain over the past year so we've had to work quite slowly. Personally, I'm very happy to put on an event in the open air and quite relaxed as I think it's a fair deal safer.

"The feedback I'm hearing is that people are very pleased the festival is coming back. Obviously some people may still be shielding but I think a lot of people will turn up."

The festival is usually supported by local sponsors, but organisers decided with many businesses struggling over the course of the pandemic that they would finance the event using its reserves.

Music will be taking place, organised by the Bridport Folk Festival team, there will be a licensed bar courtesy of Jurassic Fields and Brit Valley Rotary Club will be serving cream teas and cake. There will be also be pulled pork served from a mobile wagon.

In previous years, the renowned event has attracted hundreds of people to the town, sporting the most creative, wild and wacky hats they can get there hands on.

First established in 2010, the hat festival has grown in popularity with each passing year.

Over the past ten years, the festival has raised thousands of pounds for head-related charities.

There will be a bucket collection on the day with donations being made to the festival organiser's chosen charities of Brain Tumour Research (BTR) and The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT).