A FESTIVAL got off to an unusual start as a world renowned DJ performed a series of tongue in cheek limericks.

But visitors to LagoonFest 2019 were delighted by a day of live music, good food and an appearance by Hove-based beat-maker Fatboy Slim.

The Right Here, Right Now creator opened the event, which aims to raise money to fund improvement schemes at Hove Lagoon.

The DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, said: “It’s even better than last year.

“The whole thing is better and we know what we are doing more this time around.

“Myself and other organisers are not professionals at this so we are learning as we go.

“But I think everything has run more smoothly this year and the sun has come out too.”

Mr Cook owns the popular Big Beach Cafe at the lagoon and said he wanted to see improvements to the area continue.

He said: “It’s absolutely vital for work on the lagoon to continue.

“My kids have grown up playing here.

“We want it to stay at the centre of the community.

“The area was quite forlorn when we took the cafe over six years ago.

“So many improvements have been made since then and it’s great to watch the community grow and I think the relationship between this and the businesses is very symbiotic.”

Mr Cook also praised the city of Brighton and Hove, of which he is an integral part.

The hit-maker moved to the city in 18 to study English, politics, and sociology but quickly became ingrained in the music culture, which he has helped to shape ever since.

He said: “It’s my home. It’s the most wonderful, friendly and grown up city I can think of.

“I also really like the relationship between me and the city.

“I’m proud of the people of Brighton and Hove, and I hope they’re proud of me.”

The event was a family effort as Mr Cook’s daughter Nelly helped her father in his fundraising efforts - serving drinks throughout the day before drawing tickets to decide the raffle winners on the main stage.

This was LagoonFest’s second year following a successful first outing last year.

It is organised by Friends of Hove Lagoon (FoHL) a group of community members and businesses interested in improving the area.

This was set up in 2016 by Conservative Councillor Robert Nemeth who sits in the Wish ward and also delivered a speech at the festival’s opening.

In this he said it was “going to be bigger, better and raise more money than last year’s festival” which saw more than £8,000 collected.

This was put towards a planting scheme at the lagoon and funds from this year’s event will be used to continue this project.

FoHL secretary and event organiser Sue Johnson said: “We decided it would be good to have an organisation to look after the area because it was being neglected.

“But we are different to many residents groups because we work with businesses as we have three major businesses in the area.

“Since starting we have really gone from strength to strength.

“We do a lot of activities but LagoonFest is definitely our biggest and most successful event.

“I think that’s because people have got a lot of fondness for Hove Lagoon.”

Cllr Nemeth said: “We have established Hove Lagoon as Hove’s primary seafront attraction.

“It was forgotten but now it’s the first place people think of going.”

The event was attended by thousands of people who enjoyed a day full of live music, food and drinks trucks, watersports, shopping stalls and more. There were more than a few Hawaiian shirts on show too.