SCORES of people filled Burnham-on-Sea beach as a popular kite festival returned to the town.

On Saturday and Sunday (September 14 and 15) hundreds of people looked up to the sky as more than a dozen colourful kites were flown above Burnham beach.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Burnham Cllr Andy Brewer and his wife, Lorna, officially opened the kite festival to visitors on Saturday alongside Burnham’s town crier Alisdair Murray.

Visitors had the chance to learn to fly kites, speak to kite enthusiasts and buy a new kite of their own.

A whale kite, an 80ft octopus kite and a 45ft wide dragon kite were among the colourful kites in the skies on the day.

Gaynor Brown, organiser of the event, said: “We had a super weekend. Could have done with more wind on Saturday but we did have enough breeze to do a fantastic illuminated display at sunset which could be seen as far away as Tesco.

“Sunday was perfect weather and ‘Baby’ the blue whale flew all day.

“The Town Council funded half the costs of this year’s Beach Kite Fest with Somerset Community Support Foundation paying the rest and financing the whale for us too. We are grateful to both organisations for covering the costs of the event.”