AN ACTION-PACKED schedule of sport and music attracted more than 30,000 people to the Bournemouth 7s Festival this weekend.

Billed as the largest event of its kind in the world, the three-day extravaganza boasted an array of star names filling 10 arenas at the Chapel Gate-based site.

A performance by flamboyant American rapper Fatman Scoop tonight is set to round things off in style after a timetable of almost non-stop rugby, dodgeball, hockey and netball.

Around 400 teams featured in total.

But, in its ninth year, Bournemouth 7s is now about much more than just music and sport.

The 3,000 choosing to camp alongside the daily visitors were also able to enjoy various international food stalls and fun activities.

And for the first time Sunday was family-themed, with AFC Bournemouth, BH Live Active and the RAF all putting on a range of activities in a bid to attract greater numbers of children and their parents.

"We are absolutely delighted with how the ninth Bournemouth 7s Festival unfolded,” said Roger Woodall, CEO of event organiser Diamond Sporting Group.

“It was a fantastic weekend with a huge variety of entertainment for festival goers of all ages and our family day was a real success.

“We would like to thank everyone who attended this year as well as everyone who contributed to the success.

“My team and I are extremely proud of the 2016 Festival and hope to see every single guest back for our tenth anniversary in May 2017."

The festival has grown rapidly since its inception – with the number of visitors quadrupling since 2008.

Among the revellers at this year’s event was 22-year-old student Tom Hampton, who had travelled down from Leicester especially.

“For me Bournemouth 7s marks the start of summer,” he said. “The atmosphere has been fantastic and it seems to get better every year.”

Amy Bullard, 25, said she has been going to Bournemouth 7s for three years.

“It gets better every year,” she said. “You can see a lot of the competitors take it very seriously, but when that’s all over it’s just a great party.”