WEST BAY was a hive of activity over the long coronation weekend as the popular Pirates Day returned to the seaside village.

Live music entertained crowds on a makeshift stage near the pier on The Mound as visitors made the most of free games, a tombola and bar in the brilliant May sunshine on Sunday. 

The event was organised by West Bay Days, a small not-for- profit voluntary organisation which puts on several other events in the area throughout the year.

Thousand of people were set to descend on the small west Dorset village for the Pirates Day, which culminated in an impressive fireworks display at 10pm.

Stalls and games took place on the green next to The Salt House and included an opportunity to make your own piece of rope with pirates, win fun prizes on the tombola and browse craft stalls.

Games included walk the plank, splat the rat, lucky dip and a cannon ball run, while there were also prizes for the best dressed pirate.

This was the second time the event had returned after being cancelled for two years due to COVID-19 and organisers were thrilled to put it back on again having last run the event in June 2022. 

West Bay Days chairman James Radcliffe told The News: “We were lucky with the weather with it being a dry day and we are hoping to raise lots of funds.

“Hopefully there will be a few thousand down here today. It is really good to be back into it, West Bay enjoys it so it is nice to be able to put it on for them.”

This year, Pirates Day is supporting Bridport Youth Rugby Club and the Heritage Coast Canoe Club in West Bay, with about £8,000 hoping to be given away to the groups after this year’s event.

Rajiv Vig ran the tombola stall next to The Salt House and added: “Everyone has a lot of fun and it brings the community out.

“We have been doing this for years and it is just getting bigger and bigger.”