Organisers of Harwich's 12th sea festival were on the crest of a wave after hailing it the biggest and best yet.

More than 5,000 people flocked to the sea to watch numerous events taking place along the waterfront on Saturday.

A First Great Eastern train, called Essex Lifeboats, was blessed by the Rev Gillian Greenslade, curate of the parish church.

Former hostage Terry Waite, who named the train in March, was also present along with Harwich MP Ivan Henderson. The idea for the naming came from the Harwich lifeboat crew.

The RAF air sea rescue helicopter carried out a demonstration rescue with the Harwich Lifeboats and the famous motorcycle harbour jump was carried out by the Harwich Motorcycle Jump club.

Alongside the pier there was the Sailing Barge Centaur, the Clyde Puffer VIC 56 and the steam tug TID 172.

On the water, the annual trawler race took place while the town's two yacht clubs joined forces to stage the annual sea festival yacht race.

Eastern National's vintage open-top bus went on rides and operated a park and ride scheme.

It is thought more than £4,500 - a record amount - has been raised to help build a new boathouse in the town.

Capt Rod Shaw, secretary of the Harwich Lifeboat, said: "It was a huge success, this was certainly the largest we have ever run. It was bigger and better than we have run before."

There was extra good news for Capt Shaw as First Great Eastern announced it was so impressed it would be the major sponsor for next year's event.

A large contingent of Dutch visitors were present due to the town and the lifeboat's links with the Netherlands.

A resident of Church Street, Harwich, won a Royal Caribbean Cruises raffle to take a holiday on the Splendour of the Seas.

And Chris Strachan's Stompers provided jazz on the railway station and on the open-top bus in the morning and by the shore, the usual stalls, Morris and clog dancing and Irish band Waxie Dargly were present.

In the evening the Sea Festival Dance took place at the Cliff Hotel.

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