THE Foodies Festival has been hailed another ‘phenomenal success’ after attracting massive crowds over the weekend.

More than 30,000 people from across the region flocked to Tatton Park to savour a cacophony of gastronomic delights.

The three-day event offered a mouth-watering array of attractions including celebrity chefs cooking up their signature dishes, wacky food competitions and a chance to buy from more than100 of the country’s finest artisan food and drink producers.

Highlights included cookery demonstrations by BBC Masterchef winner Kenny Tutt, Sunday Brunch TV host Simon Rimmer, Great British Menu winner Adam Reid of The French in Manchester and Liverpool’s Kate Lyon, a Great British Bake Off finalist in 2017.

An array of local chefs also took to the stage, including Gary Usher of the Sticky Walnut in Chester and Mark Fletcher of Mere Golf and Spa, Knutsford who showed his skills at cooking fish.

A Drinks Theatre offered visitors a chance to become wine connoisseurs and sample many different varieties. Gin and fizz masterclasses also went down well.

A Kids Cookery Theatre saw youngsters try their hand at making rainbow salads, Eton Mess and chunky salsa.

Other highlights included chilli-eating, cream-pie throwing and cheese-stretching contests.

It was the ninth annual event and new this year was a music stage featuring The Hoosiers, Toploader and Dodgy and an extended timetable of attractions.

A festival spokesman said: “Food-lovers turned out in force despite World Cup football matches on TV. The weather was glorious and Tatton Park as ever provided a stunning backdrop.”

Now organisers are planning to return to Tatton with a Christmas-themed event over three days, November 16 to 18.

For more information and tickets visit foodiesfestival.com