Hundreds of people have turned out to honour Lowestoft's historic beach village.

GritFest – a Grit Celebration Day – has been successfully held in Sparrows Nest Gardens as free family activities atrracted the crowds.

The event is part of Poetry People's year-long community-driven words, film and music project about the town's almost forgotten fishing village – known as The Grit.

A fun-filled, free family day out was showcased to large crowds on Sunday (May 27) as BBC broadcaster Zeb Soanes launched the event in style by reading 'The Grit' news headlines.

Later, Mr Soanes read the Shipping Forecast from the park's bandstand. Afterwards he said: 'To read the Shipping Forecast in my hometown, being so close to the sea, was really special. When I read the Shipping Forecast it always takes me straight back to home, so to be here today by the sea, where the information is needed, was amazing.'

With dance workshops, live music, performances, special talks, information about The Grit and a range of stalls and demonstrations on display, the popular park was transformed for the event.

Pakefield's ukelele pluckers – will also perform before Lowestoft-born poet and writer Dean Parkin's Nitty Gritty.

The event concluded with a grand finale from The Austin Beats, reliving the 1960's heydays of the Dockside Dandies, as songs of yesteryear echoed out.