Pictures: Great Dorset Chilli Festival 2022

Crowds of chilli lovers flocked to the Stock Gaylard Estate, Sturminster Newton, for one of the hottest events in Dorset's calendar.

The event, in its 11th year, saw a huge variety of dedicated independent sauce manufacturers and retailers along with some of the country’s best specialist chilli growers.

Stalls sold all things chilli, from pepper plants to cayenne condiments; seeds to ceramics; artisan food producers; music; chilli cook-off competition; spicy street food; local ice creams to cool the mouth and local beers to slake the thirst.

And, of course, the heat was turned up with the ever popular chilli-eating competitions. The chillies began at a mild heat, increasing based upon the Chilli Pepper Heat Scoville Scale as the rounds progressed.

Contestants were whittled down one-by-one as the heat became too much to handle.

There was high drama on Saturday when the final two - Debbie Lonnen and Ahmed Al-Mhroope - refused to be beaten and a draw was declared.

The festival was a much-welcomed success after a couple of years of bad weather and a pandemic.

Festivalgoers were seen armed with chilli plants bought from local sellers and tasting some of the hottest sauces and condiments the chilli world has to offer.

Organiser Miles Halton said: "It's been amazing. There are so many small, independent businesses here who've had a tough few years and have been really struggling. To see it so busy here today and to see people supporting those independents businesses is really great. It's nice to see them all getting back on their feet again.

"We couldn't have asked for better weather -it's a beautiful day and people seem to be having a lovely time."