THE latest instalment of the Highcliffe Revival Food Festival has seen people turn out in force to support local traders.

Members of the public that visited the festival on Lymington Road had over 80 food and drink stalls to explore.

The event, which is taking place over two days for the first time, also featured cooking demonstrations in the Methodist Hall and a variety of entertainment acts throughout the festival.

Alongside a dedicated team of volunteers, Mary Reader organised the festival having launched it for the first time three years ago.

“We’re very pleased with it. The street is full of people; we’ve had very good audiences for our first three demonstrations and it’s had a wonderful buzzy atmosphere,” she said.

“This year we’ve made it into an artisan festival so we’ve got a lot more food to take home.

“We try to make it something that covers the whole community so we’ve got the children’s baking competition, a children’s art competition linked to food.”

Celebrity chef Lesley Walters hosted a demonstration on Saturday afternoon, as well as a lunch event at the Cliffhanger Café.

Luke Matthews, the Executive Head Chef at the Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa, also gave a demonstration at the festival.

He said: “I think the festival is brilliant. It’s great for the area, it’s great for Highcliffe and every year that it’s been here it’s got bigger and it’s got better.

“I think anything like this is great to get people to enjoy and eat food, and to use local produce that is readily available to us.”

Visitors could sample and purchase food from sausages, paella and curry, to gin, fudge and cider.

The festival continues Sunday with further demonstrations from chefs and a similar mix of delicacies on offer from traders.