A WATER-INSPIRED festival is to return for a second year.

Following a successful inaugural festival last year, Plastic Free Eastbourne has announced the return of the Spring Water Festival.

Celebrating water in all aspects, including as a vital resource, habitat for marine and wild life, impact of climate change, health, tourism and spiritual influence, the event is to be held from May 13 to 22.

Event organisers said the festival will celebrate Eastbourne’s water, beach and network of refill stations, located along the 19km of Eastbourne's seafront and coastline.

“By providing free mains spring water, we can raise awareness for everyone to refill reusable water bottles and reduce the amount of single use plastic, to help protect our environment,” organisers said.

“Our Downlands are a precious resource, as the rain percolates down into a vast chalk aquifer that provides the town with about 75 per cent of its fresh drinking water.

“This festival is an important opportunity to celebrate this initiative and to encourage further expansion.”

The event will also be running its first creative writing and media competition on the theme of the sea. Entries are open now and will close on May 13.

Art exhibitions, health and wellbeing talks and Plastic Free Eastbourne’s Big Beach Clean event are all activities available at the festival.

This year, the Blue Planet at Eastbourne conference is planned at the Lansdowne Hotel, with a series of stalls on Western Lawns, where the public can learn about how local organisations are approaching water.

Also new for this year, there will be a rock and blues concert at the Function Room of the Crown and Anchor, with music by local group Southern Spirit. This is a fundraising event to help finance the festival.

Founder of Plastic Free Eastbourne Oliver Sterno said: “We believe in taking action with urgency in order to raise public awareness about some of the most pressing issues facing our environment.

“We are driven by a single goal: to do our part in making Eastbourne a better place for everyone. We want to influence all stages of this environmental crisis and we strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact.”