Jersey seaside festival had about 12,000 visitors

The organiser of Jersey's seaside festival said he was overwhelmed by the number of visitors.

Mario Pirozzolo said there were about 12,000 people at the event at Havres des Pas in St Saviour on Sunday.

The event which celebrates the island's links to the coast is now in its seventh year.

There was concern about its future ahead of the festival but Mr Pirozzolo said he had already secured sponsorship for 2012.

Seafood celebration

He said: "I was staggered by the amount of people who turned up and somebody said I think we've got too many people down here.

"Then somebody else said 'no this is how it used to be in the 60's and 70's and 80's on a hot day, it's fine'."

The fish festival, also taking place over the weekend in St Helier saw a lower turnout than in 2010.

One of the organisers, Don Thompson, said he was pleased that about 6,000 people visited the event at Victoria Pier.

The Fish festival on Saturday celebrated local seafood, with food stalls, live music and a "man-powered flight" competition.