Sidmouth’s fifth annual Sea Fest is set to be FAB after organisers won support from national and local bodies.

The community festival on Saturday, May 12, will boast free fun in the daytime, followed by a ticketed variety night.

And the Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub, will soon be launching a new initiative, the Fish Art Book, or FAB.

Hub director Louise Cole said: “We are delighted to share news of our funding success following awards from the Sid Vale Association – Keith Owen Fund, Sidmouth Town Council and the Big Lottery Fund under the national lottery Awards for All fund.

“This support for is a testament to Sea Fest becoming a much loved festival that has galvanised community involvement across all ages and provides a welcome ‘feel good’ event with a responsible message.”

Artistic director Coco Hodgkinson added: “We are very fortunate to have such support for both our annual event and for our new project to produce a book combining seasonal fish recipes and cooking tips, with art made by young people and fishing heritage information.”

Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub will be launching the project soon and asking the community to contribute recipes to include in the book. The project has seed money from the People’s Postcode Lottery to kickstart the project and local hotels and restaurants are being approached to sponsor recipes from local chefs.

This year, in addition to coastal organisations, Creativity on the Coast activities, the Prawn Cocktail bar, fish, heritage, music, dance and performance, the 2018 special focus is on reducing plastics in the oceans.

Sea Fest organisers are working with groups including Sidmouth Plastic Warriors and wider campaigns to raise awareness of the issue and supporting everyone to take action to reduce single use plastic consumption.

New additions this year include net mending and withy pot making and a feature demonstration kitchen alongside plenty of fun and games.

Sidmouth Sea Fest Community Choir will be back and is currently recruiting more choir members anyone wishing to join is welcome to a rehearsal at Sidmouth College on March 17 at 10am. The choir will also be supporting Sidmouth Gig Club at the launch of the new gig on the seafront on Saturday 17th February at 11am.