MINEHEAD BID has launched two new town centre events which they hope will catch on and become a regular part of the calendar.

May Day celebrations began at 5am with a dawn wake-up call by the Hobby Horse, which this year linked up with other colourful entertainers in Wellington Square later in the morning.

St Michael’s and Minehead First School took centre stage with a series of spring maypole dances, followed by the West Somerset Morris side and the Acorn Shanty Crew.

With the bank holiday approaching, bunting around Wellington Square stayed in place for the more familiar St Andrew’s Church May Fair on Saturday.

And at the other end of the town, at the harbour and with its own colourful bunting and flags, the second artisan market of the season set up shop.

People were entertained by the Stoggymen who performed over lunch. Established, last year this market is now gaining its own following.

Andrew Hopkins, Minehead’s BID manager, said: “BID has to be seen adding spice to all parts of the retail area of the town. Creating our own new events and financially supporting others already in existence such as the artisan market is part of our plan.

“Linking the different areas of the town to make an overall experience for visitors during the first May bank holiday, we needed something else.”

Taking over forecourts and function spaces all over the town with Victorian cyber punk, visitors enjoyed something wherever they turned. A music and variety show at the Regal were thrown in for good measure.

BID chairman Graham Sizer said: “Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. It was an experimental event for Minehead but our feedback has been positive.”

Full report and more photos in this week’s Free Press (May 10).