IN A unique event, pooches and their owners headed to Burnham-on-Sea for the first Sea Dogs Festival.

Held on the sunny Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend at the town's seafront, people were encouraged to come along and brib their dogs for a day of animal-themed fun.

Sea Dogs Festival began on the South Esplanade and was organised by two local residents, Sarah and Bev Milner Simonds.

The rules on which beaches dogs can go on changes on the May 1 and September 30 each year.

Between these dates you can't take a dog onto the beaches between the Yacht Club, the jetty, the Pavilion and the end of the sea wall and Maddocks Slade.

Dogs can never go on the beach between the jetty and the pavilion and have unrestricted year round access to the six miles of sandy beach North of Maddocks Slade and the end of the sea wall.

The festival was held to mark the last day of dogs being allowed on the beach.

Sarah Milner Simonds said: "We wanted to organise a fun, informative day out aimed at dog owners and dog lovers that gave us an opportunity to showcase Burnham on Sea.

"We chose the last day of the dog access to some of the beaches to highlight the seasonal rules."

Co-organiser, Beverley Milner Simonds, said: "We had over 150 entries to various fun dog show classes and over 800 people came along to this first event.

"We gathered some great feedback on what people want more of.

"Listening to shops and cafes on the Esplanade and in town they also benefited from an increase in footfall.

"It was really nice to hear from the street cleaning team that despite the large increase in dogs, there was no fouling."