A Dorset music festival that raises money for an end of life care charity has announced it will not continue - after this year.

Music by the Lake, organised by the Weldmar Hospicecare, will be held for one last time this year.

The festival is taking place from Friday, July 5 until Sunday, July 7 at the Dorchester Showground, with tribute acts from Robbie Williams, Pink, the Spice Girls, Lionel Ritchie, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.

This year is also the 30th anniversary of the hospice, however, due to rising costs, it has decided that the festival will have to be pulled.

The news comes after the Dorset-based charity set itself an ambitious target of raising £250,000 during a 30 hour fundraising marathon.

Weldmar needs to raise £27,500 every day to keep providing specialist care in Dorset for adults with a range of life limiting illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and motor neurone disease

READ: Weldmar Hospicecare announces abseil challenge for 30 years

The charity says its services are facing increased demand as costs spiral.

A spokesperson for Music by the Lake said: "Weldmar Hospicecare is sad to announce that this year’s Music by the Lake will be the last.

"The event is organised by, and raises money for, the charity with all proceeds going towards specialist end of life care for local adults who have a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones.

"You may have read and seen the news recently that Weldmar is likely to spend around a million pounds more this year on this care than it is likely to raise.

READ: Weldmar hospice receives 'special' donation

"All of our care is provided free, and always will be. But, in these challenging times for charities, and hospices in particular, we must look at which fundraising opportunities and initiatives make the most impact.

"Organising Music by the Lake means a significant commitment in time, energy and resources, and an increasing number of events springing up locally means that there is even more competition for spending your hard earned money on our tickets.

READ: EBIKE Café raises money for Weldmar Hospicecare

"We’d like to thank every person who has bought a ticket since we started the event at Kingston Maurward in 2019, and moved to our new home of Dorchester Showground in 2022.

"We’d love to go out with a bang and make this the best Music by the Lake yet.

"If you haven’t got yours, please consider getting your tickets for what will be three amazing final shows this July, with the UK’s best tributes to Abba, Robbie Williams, the Spice Girls, Lionel Richie, and more, at www.musicbythelake.net"