Crowds turned out for Newport’s third annual food festival today, with the city centre taken over by munching shoppers and aromas of food.

Customers said there seemed to be more people attending than last year’s festival, helped by fine weather with some people even putting on suncream in the street.

Elin Andrews, 29, from Ridgeway, came down with nine-month-old daughter Miri. She said: “It’s lovely, much bigger than I thought it would be. It’s like Abergavenny Food Festival used to be, when you didn’t have to pay to get in so you could just spend your money on food. We’ve bought a pie for daddy so far.”

Hilary Goodger, 61, from St Julians was enjoying a lemon and sugar crepe. She said: “There are a lot more people than last year and so many different types of stall. I’ve bought some cheese and butternut squash and sweet potato soup from Wildings.”

Rod Needham was selling salmon with butterbean and chorizo stew as well as lime and garlic marinated salmon wraps, along with daughter Lisa Martins. He said: “We’ve had to bring in more supplies because we’ve run out. We’ve probably served 100 people up ‘til now, and it’s still early.”

Mr Needham, who runs Needham’s Fish Mongers in Newport Market, said: “I haven’t seen this many people here in years. Hopefully a lot of these people might start coming back to the town.”

Jane Batchelor, 45, from Gaer, said: “I’m here with my son and his girlfriend. We’re having a good browse to make up our minds what to eat. It’s nice to see Newport busy again.”

Mevel Patrick, from Brittany, was selling bunches of French onions from a bicycle. He said: “Business is good today. But the bicycle is only for show.”

Rhys Edwards, from Moody Sow, gave one of the chef’s demonstrations and was selling sausage rolls, brisket and other foods. He said: “It has been brilliant today, we’ve nearly sold out.”

Sally Ford, Wildings store manager, said: "It's been really lovely chatting to all the customers. There has been a fab atmosphere and we've had a stream of customers people since 9am, hundreds I would say. We've sold a lot of soup."

Children with their faces painted and wielding balloon sculptures ran down the streets as parents browsed the stalls.

Everything from baklava to paella, fudge, burgers and beer was on sale along with crafts.

The day lasted from 9am until 5pm with free entrance and more than 60 stalls lining High Street, Griffin Street and Westgate Square.

There were masterclasses in cooking and celebrities of the food world attended such as Newport-born and Michelin starred chef Hywel Jones, who was chief judge in the final of the Teenchef competition taking place in the festival.

The council run festival’s website can be found here: www.newportfoodfestival.co.uk.