LYMINGTON Seafood Festival is set to become an annual attraction after about 15,000 people attended the inaugural event.

The two-day festival aimed to celebrate Lymington’s heritage.

The coastal town built ships for Edward III and Henry VIII and was also a major salt producer before fishing and farming took over.

Held at Bath Road Park, the festival comprised live music and about 70 stalls selling 140 different types of seafood.

Celebrity chef Alex Aitken was one of the culinary experts who took part in the mouth-watering event.

Money raised by the festival will be donated to the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), a UK-based charity that is spearheading a campaign to boost the number of oysters in the Solent.

BLUE is working with TV star Ben Fogel, host of shows such as Countrywise and Harbour Lives.The Channel 5 presenter who was unable to attend the seafood festival but visitors included former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, who was injured in a dramatic car crash in Switzerland in June.