AN ANCIENT tradition and summer custom has brought beavers, hares and the community together in Upwey for the 30th year running.

Upwey Wishing Well, a natural spring once believed to have healing powers, has been annually dressed by husband and wife Maggie and Fil Cooke, and members of the community since 1986.

On Saturday, the tradition of well dressing attracted the whole community to take part in the ceremony which celebrates the importance of water.

The well dressing board was paraded in the village and accompanied by Frome Valley Morris men.

Maggie Cooke said: "It was a lovely day and just perfect. A lot of local people came and helped.

"This year the theme was hares and it was a real combined effort. People brought bright flowers to put over the archway and Weymouth Central beavers created a hare and tortoise board for the well dressing.

"It was absolutely gorgeous. The board just became a tapestry of materials and magically turned into something.

"This is the 30th one so it really was quite special and a lovely day."

The Elements performed at the dressing, singing songs about the river.

The charities supported this year by the well are Dorset Wildlife Trust and a hare protection group.

Fil Cooke said: "Saturday was fabulous, there was just real magic that day.

"The well dressing has become part of our tradition in the village and it's nice to have something the whole community can get involved with."

Mr Cooke said the community chose hares as this year's theme for the dressing board because Upwey is a prime place to spot hares.

He said: "We see them bouncing about everywhere here.

"We found out there is concern of hares declining in numbers in the south west so we wanted to do something."

The well dressing is on display from now until the end of May in Upwey.