MASSIVE crowds and scorching sunshine helped to make this year's Christchurch Food Festival a record-breaker.

Thousands turned out in droves to the popular event, which had expanded to a new Festival Village on Christchurch Quay as well as the traditional stalls in the High Street.

The Festival Village had grown this year to include a lot more stalls as well as the demonstration marquee and a pop-up restaurant by Koh Thai.

Demonstrations at the ‘Cook at Purewell’ demonstration marquee were well-attended with mouthwatering dishes shown by the festival’s patron Lesley Waters as well as TV chef Dean Edwards and Executive Chef of Rick Stein restaurants, Jack Stein.

Local chefs Alex Aitken from Harbour Hotels and James Golding from The Pig were also on stage, as well as nutritionist Barbara Cox.

Another highlight in the demonstration marquee was the Cook-A-Fun session with chefs Simon Hallam from The Thomas Tripp and Colin Nash from The Three Tuns.

They invited the Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Frederick Neale and Father Richard from The Priory Church to come up on stage to help them prepare their dishes.

Children had fun in the popular Kids Kitchen sessions held at The Priory School with a full programme of entertainment at Saxon Square and on the Quomps.

Vicki Hallam, chairman of the food festival committee, said: “Once again we were incredibly blessed with wonderful weather – it couldn’t have been better.

"The great atmosphere down on the Quomps really proved to us that we absolutely made the right decision to expand the festival onto two sites. Both the High Street and the Festival Village were crowded with people having a great time.

“The record crowds showed that the festival really does go from strength to strength every year.

"The festival can only happen with the help of all our sponsors and the volunteers who get involved in stewarding all through the weekend. I would like to thank every one of them for their tremendous efforts.”

Events in Christchurch’s restaurants, pubs and cafes continue until May 21, when Highcliffe hosts their Revival Food Festival.

The main shopping area will be closed to traffic to accommodate food stalls with a programme of demonstrations as well.