Lowestoft First Light Festival: 24-hour arts and music event returns

The festival was held on Lowestoft's South Beach

A 24-hour beach festival has returned after being cancelled twice because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The First Light Festival, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, ran from midday on Saturday until midday on Sunday.

The multi-arts and science event is held at the weekend closest to the summer solstice.

Festivalgoers at the country's most easterly point enjoyed patches of sunshine, but a storm struck late on Saturday.

The beach was lit up by lightning as the sculpture known as the Pakefield Man was set alight.

The crowd made excited noises as the lightning lit up the sky in Lowestoft

It began at midday on Saturday and had a programme of events spanning into Sunday

Headline acts included comedian Mark Thomas, DJ LTJ Bukem and jazz legend Andy Sheppard

The event was funded by East Suffolk Council and the Arts Council.

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This year a half marathon was held, as well as a cycling challenge in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice, in Ipswich.

The inaugural First Light Festival in Lowestoft, was held in 2019 and attracted about 10,000 people.

The free 24-hour event includes a sunlight stage event at dawn, watching the sun rise above the sea