A VAST array of food, drink and entertainment attracted around 18,000 people to Alcester’s 7th food festival held in High Street and Church Street at the weekend.

On Saturday, October 18, more than 100 stalls selling a huge range of locally produced products including a selection of free range turkey or duck for Christmas, hand smoked meats, cakes, breads and cheeses filled the streets.

Frank Wood, chairman of Alcester Food Festival, said: “We keep trying to get stalls a little bit more local and with improved quality wherever possible. We are now getting more applications than can be taken.

“There were a lot more stalls than ever before and it was much bigger than last October’s.

“The weather was quite bad but it improved. Visitors seemed to stay longer than before with quite a few people around at half past four.

“For the first time we held cookery classes for children under 12s, they weren’t full but we think we will keep going with that. The children that went really enjoyed them."

During the event local beers mulled ciders and range of English wine was available along with hand-made chocolates and desserts.

A selection of treats suitable for vegetarians and those with gluten allergies were also on offer.

The festival is organised by a voluntary committee of six people, supported by many other volunteers in Alcester as the festival day approaches.

Around 20,000 visitors attended the previous food festival event which took place in May. The next food festival will be held in May 2015.