ORGANISERS are gearing up to make this year’s Spirit of the Sea Festival bigger and better than ever before.

And the search is on to find enthusiastic volunteers to help with a children’s procession that aims to fill Weymouth with colourful costumes, dance and music.

Marshalls, runners, refreshment providers, door security, check-in and greeters, first aiders, face painters and dance leaders are needed to help make this year’s Moving Tides Children’s Procession the biggest and best yet.

Up to 300 children from 15 local primary and secondary schools are expected to participate in this year’s Moving Tides children’s procession on Saturday, July 9, which is part of the borough’s Spirit of the Sea maritime festival.

In preparation, nine schools have been taking part in Moving Tides workshops run by Arts University College Bournemouth students to create costumes and headwear for the spectacular event, which in previous years has boasted costumes inspired by the Spanish Armada, frogs, shells and a larger-than-life octopus.

Pupils at St Andrew’s Primary School, Preston, St John’s Primary School, Wyke Regis Junior School, Beechcroft St Pauls, Bincombe Valley, St Augustine’s primary school, Westfield Arts College, and Budmouth and All Saints secondary schools have all been getting creative this month for the Cultural Olympiad event.

Forthcoming workshops will be held to cover dance skills, junk percussion and make-up demonstrations and organisers are looking for volunteers to get involved now.

Sarah Colwell, Moving Tides’ project manager, said: “We’re are looking for willing and able volunteers to undertake the following roles to help support more than 300 children and young people as they prepare for the event and during the procession itself.

“Help is required for all or part of the day, no previous experience is necessary as training will be given prior to the event.

She added: “The junk percussion and make-up workshops have all been booked now and I am in the process of finalising the dance workshops that will happen during the last two to three weeks prior to July 9.”

To volunteer or to find out more call Sarah Colwell on 07918 655755 or email sarah_colwell@btinternet.com

• THE Dorset Echo is proud to be the official media partner of the 2011 Spirit of the Sea Festival, which is taking place from July 2 to 10.

Headline events at this year’s festival include the Beach Live free music festival on Weymouth seafront, the Henri-Lloyd Weymouth Regatta for dinghies and keelboats, Dorset Seafood Festival and Weymouth International Modelling Festival.

Other attractions will include watersport taster sessions, the Big Grove Summer Festival on Portland. Visit spiritofthesea.org.uk