DAVID Cameron and Mark Carney should look no further than thriving Dorset festivals to see the UK in recovery mode, according to a business boss.

Multi-award-winning music extravaganza Camp Bestival has brought an estimated £8.3 million to the Dorset economy following the four-day event which started on August 1.

Organiser and DJ Rob da Bank said: “You can’t underestimate how may families use Camp Bestival as the start of their summer holiday and then go and stay locally and spend locally.

“We also use local suppliers and staff wherever possible and work with lots of local charities.”

The population of the Isle of Purbeck is around 45,000 and Camp Bestival brought in an additional 30,000 revellers, with 85 per cent coming from outside Dorset.

Peter Scott, chief executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Recent and forthcoming festivals such as Camp Bestival, the Purbeck Folk Festival, Forever Sun, Bournemouth Sevens, the Great Dorset Steam Fair, and of course the Bournemouth Air Festival all bring millions into the economy.

“If David Cameron and Bank of England governor Mark Carney want tangible evidence of the UK economy in recovery mode, come to Dorset.”

Now in its sixth year, Bournemouth Air Festival has welcomed in excess of 4.7million people to the UK’s leading seaside resort and generated more than £100 million for the local economy.

A new large-scale event is also heading for the town next year which is predicted to create 150 jobs and bring a £9million boost to the economy.

The world’s first International Wheels Festival will be held between Saturday May 24 and Monday May 26.