THOUSANDS of food and drink lovers from around the area have enjoyed a week in and around Bridport celebrating local food and drink.

Visitors toured Leakers Bakery, Palmers Brewery, Furleigh Estate and Liberty Fields Orchards, they learnt new cooking skills including how to cook a curry with Helen Choudhury at the Taj Mahal Restaurant, enjoyed special menus using local ingredients at many of the local eateries and bars, competed in a food quiz at the Ropemakers, and enjoyed sample dishes from 19 different venues around Bridport on the Taste Trail.

On Saturday a record number of visitors packed into Asker Meadows to enjoy the food and drink on offer from local producers, caterers and the Round Tables’ Beer Festival in glorious weather.

The mayor, Councillor Anne Rickard, welcomed everyone to the festival and visited most of the stands together with her escort, David Rickard. The Children's Tent and Discover Farming, were as popular as ever with lots of hands-on activities.

The new Teen Zone tent was a hit and will be back again next year.

Dan Richards from Seaside Boarding House, cookery book writers Christine McFadden and Julie Montague, Sarah Ali-Choudhury from Easy Curry cooked up some mouth-watering dishes in the packed cookery theatre.

The hands-on sessions by experts in the Make & Take were well received and visitors said they were inspirational.

Bridport Local Food Group Chairman, Jay Anderson said:“We’re thrilled to have achieved record numbers for the festival this year and in doing so being successful in achieving our objective of showcasing the tremendous range and quality of local food and drink to a countrywide audience.

“The feedback received from producers and visitors has been excellent and we look forward to building on this year’s successes to ensure that the Bridport Food Festival continues to grow.

"Many thanks must go to our generous sponsors and the many volunteers who help us on the day and Daryl Chambers and his team from Bridport Town Council for their excellent support and, of course, very special thanks to the Bridport Local Food Group committee who give up their time for free to organise and run this wonderful event each year.

" If you have any ideas or recommendations for next year or would like to join the committee of volunteers please do let us know: email festival@bridportfoodfestival.co.uk”

The Bridport Local Food Group’s Bursary Awards for new start-up companies went to Ebb Tides from Sidmouth and Amuse Chocolate from Symondsbury. Both received free stands at the Festival.

Savoury Cake Competition