TRAFFIC is to be banned from a town centre street for a Celebration of Dorchester festival aimed at cutting car chaos.

The event is set to include the closure of High West Street, a street market, live music, entertainment, cycle-themed games and training, guided walks and activities in the borough gardens.

Organisers from Dorchester Town Council are urging people to cycle or walk into town, but campaigners also hope the festival will act as a trial for the long awaited pedestrianisation of High West and East Street.

Now they are urging people to suggest more ideas at the launch of the festival at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester on May 16 at 7pm.

Coun Molly Rennie said: "This is a great opportunity to show how peaceful the high street can be and how people can enjoy the buildings with fewer cars around.

"People and employers need to start thinking now what they are going to do on the day."

The festival, titled In Town Without My Car (ITWMC), will be held as part of European Car Free Day on September 22.

Some ideas already suggested include pavement seating for cafes and restaurants, cycling events, picnics, games, competitions and restricting town centre traffic.

It comes amid calls for the high street to be pedestrianised, complaints about goods vehicles driving through South Street and after a traffic survey for Dorchester town centre.

Richard Thorogood, Dorchester's chamber of commerce president, said: "This is an excellent opportunity to show how good pedestrianisation could be.

"I am one hundred per cent behind it. People just jump in their car to drive around the corner in Dorchester, and it takes them twice as long as walking because of the congestion."

Councillors Richard Biggs, Wally Gundry and Sue Wakely have backed the festival, but the town council is also appealing for volunteers to help out at the event.

Coun Sue Wakely said: "This is a brilliant chance to give Dorchester a chance to breathe.

"We live in a lovely town and it's a pretty pleasant walk or cycle into the centre from wherever you are.

"People should get behind this."

She added: "I think it's a good idea to try the pedestrianisation of the high streets.

"But it needs to be done on two or three separate occasions to see how it would work."