SPONSORS have lined up for the Dorset Seafood Festival on Weymouth Harbourside on July 12 and 13.

Visitor attraction and shopping centre Brewers Quay is main sponsor.

Director Roger Dalton said: "As a company, we are keen to promote our local industry and support the organisers in building the festival into an event of national significance in years to come.

"This all forms part of wider investment plans to upgrade the Brewers Quay complex in time for the 2012 Olympics."

Two other sponsors are Villa Maria New Zealand Wine and Seafish Southwest. Villa Maria regularly wins trophies at wine competitions worldwide.

In the UK's International Wine Challenge 2007, Villa Maria was awarded the top award White Winemaker of the Year'.

Visitors will be able to sample and buy a range of the wines.

Seafish Southwest is funded by Seafish, South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), Defra and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). It aims to involve fishermen, merchants, processors and selling agents in ensuring that the South West Fish Industry maximises the quality and value of fish and shellfish landed.

Two sponsor opportunities are still available, and eight opportunities to sponsor specific aspects of the event.

The festival will include different species of fish and shellfish landed from boats, prepared and cooked in the open. There will also be live music, cooking demonstrations, displays and cookery competitions throughout the day. The festival is a part of the Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival which takes place between July 5 and 13.

Seafood, catering and fishing industry businesses wanting to book stand space should contact Paul Mills on 01305 837276 or email on stands@dorsetseafood.co.uk.

Those interested in sponsorship should contact Brian Cooper on 01305 770111 or email sponsorship@dorsetseafood.co.uk or marketing@dorsetseafood.co.uk