Foodies from far and wide came to tuck into the best Bridport has to offer at a record-breaking event.

Bridport Food Festival was a celebration of the food and drink available in the area, and this year’s event drew in crowds from all over the country - and some from as far as Australia.

Organised by the Bridport Local Food Group, a committee of dedicated volunteers, the festival provides a platform to showcase the best food and drink around. It gives visitors the opportunity to discover the range of what is available in the town and surrounding area.Throughout the week, food and drink producers and eateries opened their doors to celebrate the finest food and drink in the area.

The week culminated with the showcase event at Asker Meadows on Saturday, where more than 60 local food and drink producer offered an array of culinary delights, including locally-reared meats, cheeses, award winning pickles and preserves, cakes and pastries and more.

Street Food vendors offered a selection of tasty treats from one pot dishes to authentic pizzas and burgers.

The festival was opened by the new Mayor of Bridport, Cllr Barry Irvine, who arrived in a Hangers Dairy milk float, complete with glass bottled milk which supported Bridport Local Food Group’s mission to reduce the plastic consumption in the area.

The mayor was also given the task of selecting the best food and drink stand at the show. His winner was Swanky Cakes from Batcombe, near Dorchester.

Children and teenagers were encouraged to get cooking and creating in the children’s marquee and Teen Zone. Activities included making mocktails with Lloyd Brown from Dark Bear, making toasties with Coastal Cheese from Ford Farm, making Chinese breakfast dumplings with Julie Li Wen, tasting fish with Simon Mazzei from the Olive Tree and homemade pasta with Rachel Roddy.

More than 200 children and parents joined in.

This year's festival had a marine theme, inspired by David Attenborough's Blue Planet, and considered how we affect the seas around us.

The Minerva Learning Trust choir performed in the Teen Zone and gave special thanks to Palmers Brewery for their ongoing support. All the profits from Palmer’s bar at the festival are given to the trust.

Bridport Round Table Beer Festival also had another good year with a record turnout on Friday night.

Kathy Dare, chairman of Bridport Local Food Group, said: “All feedback received so far is telling us that we’ve put on another successful week of celebration - and we’ve still got the Taste Trail running until the end of June. Not bad for a group of volunteers.

All the special events held at different venues throughout the week have been well supported, and we had record numbers through the gate on Saturday. Many thanks to all the local businesses, the fabulous food and drink producers, eateries and retail outlets who have joined in and supported us by either running events or exhibiting, or in some cases doing both. It is the aim of the Bridport Local Food Group not only to promote our local food and drink industry but also to encourage everyone who lives here to be proud of what the town has to offer, and to inspire the younger generation to get involved and of course eat healthily.”

If you would like to volunteer, email festival@bridportfoodfestival.co.uk