A popular seven-day festival, hailed as one of the events of the summer, will return this weekend.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week, of which all proceeds go to the RNLI, starts in the town on Saturday, July 27 and includes a variety of different activities and events.

Last year's event raised £33,000 for the RNLI, with the event looking to raise even more as the charity celebrates 200 years. 

Proceedings will get under way with the opening ceremony at the Lifeboat Station from 11am. TV presenter Jules Hudson, known for Escape to the Country, will officially open the week.

There will then be a welcome display at 11.30am from the Atlantic 5 Spirit of Loch Fyne, before a bath tub race from Cobb Gate Beach at 12pm. Saturday’s events will conclude with a choral concert from the Lyme Bay Chorale at 6pm, before a traditional event of Conger’ Cuddling will make a return to the week for the first time since 2006, and take place at 6.24pm in the car park by the slipway.

Sunday, July 28 will see a swimming challenge take place from Cobb Gate Beach at 12pm before a performance from the Lyme Regis Town Band at the Marine Parade from 2.30pm. The Marine Parade will then host the fun run from 5pm with £3 entry for adults and £2 for children under 15. The Chantry Buoys will perform sea shanties at the performance area from 7pm before a display of illuminated planes from 9.30pm at the harbour entrance.

A Teddy Bears picnic will be held on Monday at 4pm, with guests encouraged to bring their own food. Lyme Regis fire chief Virgil Turner will demonstrate defibrillator training and stage a fire and rescue exercise.

On Tuesday, July 30, a tug of war will take place on Sandy Beach from 6.30pm before a pub quiz will be held at Woodmead Halls from 7.30pm.

The Red Devils parachute display will take place on Wednesday, July 31 at 6.30pm on Sandy Beach, before a display from the Cynewulf Morris dancers will take place at the Royal Standard from 7.30pm.

A display from the coastguards will take place on Thursday, August 1 at 6pm. Marine Parade will be hosting music from KingTide at 7.30pm.

On Friday, August 2 will start at the Lifeboat Station with a pirate breakfast from 9an, followed by pirate face painting and a pirate sandcastle competition. From 2pm, the Irene Roper Duck Race will take place. A former organiser, the event is honoured in her memory as the duck race, held over the River Lym, was her favourite event of the week.

The finale of the event will see a pirate after-party held at the Lyme Regis Brewery.

Ongoing events throughout the week include a books, jigsaw, CD and DVD sale, as well as various stalls.

For more information about the event, and to download the full programme, visit https://lovelymeregis.co.uk/events/lifeboat_week