It was glamour all round at the Southampton boat show, as Hampshire’s best dressed women strutted their stuff around the Mayflower Park arena.

The event, which is now in its 48th year, hosts a ladies day each year putting women who love boats in the spotlight.

Managing Director Murray Ellis said: “Women are buying as well as perusing and especially on a nice sunny day it’s a very conducive place to make purchases.

“To a certain extent the ladies are very important in terms of purchasing and it’s a fantastic place to come with friends.

"When the sun is shining it’s great to see so many women come along and sitting in the champagne bars.”

But not to be outdone by the well-dressed women were the male cast of hit musical Mamma Mia - currently on show at the Mayflower Theatre - comically dressed in flippers and wetsuits.

A fundraising lunch in aid of global charity Nourish the Children was held at Kutis’ Royal Pier restaurant, raising £650 towards providing meals for children in developing countries.

The boat show - which ends on September 25 - provides a welcome boost to the local economy with visitors packing out waterfront hotels and car parks, and “very strong” advance ticket sales which were already 150 per cent up on last year’s as early as July.