Scurvy sea-farin' dogs and wenches gathered in ye olde Corn Exchange in Bristol to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day.

There were cries of "Argh me hearties!" and "Yo, ho ho and a bottle of rum!" as pirate enthusiasts gathered in Corn Street to show off their costumes and take part in a cutlass fight.

Lucy Wheeler, of Bristol clothing retailer Beast who organised the event, said: "Long John Silver and Black Beard were both from Bristol.

"We all speak a bit funny like pirates here in Bristol anyway so we want to celebrate the day.

"We want everyone to remember September 19 as Talk Like a Pirate Day and take part and dress up and have fun and pay tribute to Bristol's pirate legacy. The day started in America in 1995 but we want to nab it back off them because we are the real pirates."

Lucy, 40, of Whitehall who runs shops in St Nicholas Market and Cheltenham Road, was giving out free special edition pirate T-shirts to visitors to the event.

A sculpture of famous fictional pirate Long John Silver from the book Treasure Island was erected in St Nicolas Market as part of the celebrations.

The piece, which is made out of Somerset willow was created by Devon-based artist Stephen Froom and was specially commissioned by the Bristol Long John Silver Trust.

Also along for all the pirate fun in the city centre yesterday was Dumpling the Eclectus parrot.

Dumpling turned up with owner Seb Miller of Jungletalk, a company which organises live animal talks and displays.

Paula Brown, aged 35, of Horfield, helped organise a music session and get together at the Llandoger Trow pub, said to be the model for the Admirable Benbow, the inn frequented by Long John Silver Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island.

She said: "It's a good opportunity to get dressed up and do something fun. Obviously there is also the historic element to it, with Bristol having strong connections to pirate history.

"I think there is something about pirates that everyone loves, especially kids. Maybe it's the rebellious nature of it that's fun."

Chris Brown, also known as, Captain Barnacle, said: "We've been getting together at the Llandogger on Talk Like a Pirate Day for a couple of years now. We take some instruments, invite lots of wenches, sing some pirate songs and tell a few yarns. Only people who come dressed as pirates and talk like pirates get to come in.

"We don't like no land-lubbers and we have some good pirate fun."

Peter Martin, aged 58, from Knowle, also known as Pirate Pete who organises pirate walks around the city docks and Redcliffe, said: "It's all good fun but it's also educational."