Organisers said it was a bit of an experiment - but it worked.

They combined the Charter Fair with the Community Fair, changed the date to coincide with the Love Your Local Market event, and moved it from the town centre to Mountfield, and it was a big success 'exceeding expectations'.

“We didn’t quite know what to expect – we certainly didn’t expect what we got,” said Charter Chairman Arthur Woodgate.

What they got was crowds of visitors to the free community event. The 500 available programmes disappeared in no time, and one volunteer said they could have given out at least double that amount.

In the brilliant May sunshine the May Queen was crowned and the maypole dancers wove their magic on the Millennium Green.

It was particularly poignant, with Meagan Lister being crowned by the niece, Mary Calloway, and nephew, Andrew Calloway, of the late Bernard Gale. Mr Gale's maypole was passed on to Teresa Grinter and the Lyric School of Dance to ensure that this ancient tradition was carried on. Mr Gale’s memorial overlooks the Millennium Green.

Entertainment was provided by Dan Shackell and Sue Smith, Bridport Young Performers, Bridport Choral Society, Bridport Musical Theatre, Shiraz, Rough Assembly with Chloe Rainey, and the Phoenix Youth Band. Fifty organisations manned their stalls, Rexy the Dinosaur roamed throughout, accompanied by surprise guest Spiderman, the Children’s Corner buzzed, Bridport and Bride Valley Rotary dished out the refreshments, and the bar provided by Jurassic Fields Music Festival proved popular.

The Charter Fair Trophy was presented by Mayor Ian Bark who said: “I am thrilled to be able to present this trophy to the Bridport Medical Centre Covid volunteers. On behalf of the people of Bridport I would like to say thank you for all you did to help keep us all safe and well.”

The 'Above and Beyond' Award for individual service to the community was presented to Sandra Brown. Sandra, who in 2016 received the MBE for her services to culture and the community, has dedicated half a century of voluntary involvement with a number of organisations.

Volunteer Margaret Trevett said: “I think the whole event was brilliant. Congratulations to all for the great organisation.”

Margaret’s late husband, Rex, had been the Charter Chairman before his death in 2005. His memorial also overlooks the Millennium Green.

Mr Woodgate added: “Our partnership with the town council has helped produce something quite special. It simply couldn’t have happened without them."

He also thanked the town council team along with Town Crier John Collingwood, Terri Foxwell, Grace Mynard and the staff at the TIC, with a special mention, Claire Peters-Way for managing the community stalls, and sponsors McCarthy Stone.

Thanks also went to Dave Swaffield, Linda Larcombe, Jason Foote, Nick Good, Margaret Foster, Jodie Glover, Michael Bloys, and DoDo Waring