BERE Ferrers singing group, The Tavy Tars, took their rousing sea songs to entertain visitors at the Bristol Harbour Festival recently.

They were invited to perform shanties and other salty numbers at various locations around the city's harbour over three days of festivities.

The Tars sang outside waterside pubs, in the historic Underfall boatyard and provided the musical entertainment at the festival's opening ceremony in the new M Shed museum, in front of the Lord Mayor of Bristol, naval officers from visiting HMS Cattestock and other dignitaries.

The highlights of the event were the sessions on board Brunel's famous iron steamship, 'Great Britain', as well as on the restored sailing ships, the 'Kathleen and May' and the 'Irene'.

Tars spokesman Clive Charlton said: 'It was splendid that we could represent West Devon at Bristol Harbour Festival, which is a fantastic, colourful and amazingly popular event.

'Both those beautiful sailing ships have local connections — the Kathleen and May was moored in Sutton Harbour in Plymouth in the 1970s, while the Irene has been painstakingly brought back to life on the River Lynher, so being able to sing to the crowds from their decks was brilliant.

'The owner of the Irene told us that our performance had made her day, which was really satisfying.'

The Tavy Tars have been singing together in Bere Ferrers for around eight years. They are ably supported by their musicians and musical advisors, Jane Musgrave, Carol Horner and Beth Barnes.

Tars member Peter Kay said: 'At 14, Beth must be not only the youngest, but also one of the most musically-talented shanty crew in the west.'

While they still perform every third Sunday of the month at the lively acoustic nights in the Olde Plough Inn in Bere Ferrers, the Tars have also been getting out and about more. Besides Bristol, they have appeared this year at festivals in Falmouth, Exmouth and Dartmouth.