11 great photos as Whitby Fish and Ships Festival packs in the visitors

An annual festival honouring Whitby’s maritime history and celebrating the vital role that people and businesses played in putting the region’s world-class seafood on the map, once again proved to be a great success.

Whitby Fish and Ships festival drew thousands of people to the coast over two days, with a wide range of entertainment, including cooking and fish craft demonstrations by local chefs, giant fish displays showcasing different species caught off the North Yorkshire coast, and fascinating sessions on the art of pot sewing and net mending.

Photographer Richard Ponter captured these scenes from a great event.