Adur Festival launch

This year's festival runs from Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 19. To launch the annual event, local artist Hamish McKenzie wrapped Shoreham Lighthouse in a birthday ribbon.

Father Marcus Ronchetti, from the Church of the Good Shepherd, Shoreham Beach, was joined by dancers and musicians, representing some of the festival's 160 different events, to jump out of a large birthday cake, accompanied by music from the Boundstone Community College Band.

Highlights from this year's brochure include an evening with Michael Portillo at Lancing College on Sunday, June 12, and the Brighton Beach Boys in the festival marquee on Beach Green, Shoreham Beach, on Tuesday, June 14.

Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins is coming to the Barn Theatre, Southwick, on Tuesday, June 7, and the Beach Dreams event on the weekend of June 11 and 12 will have a Nile theme.

Comedian Jenny Eclair is bringing her one-woman show to the festival marquee on Wednesday, June 15, and the late Ian Dury's backing band, The Blockheads, are hitting their rhythm sticks, also at the marquee, on Saturday, June 18.

Festival chairman Richard Durrant said he hoped this year's festival would build on the success of last year's and make Shoreham "the new Hove". Brochures are being sent to every home in Adur and tickets are now available for all the shows.

Website: www.adurfestival.com