THE CHRISTMAS spirit came to Abergavenny at the weekend with the annual Christmas food and drink fair spreading festive cheer to thousands.

Around 5,000 people turned out to the event to get enjoy the Christmassy festivities, proving to be yet another successful year for the fair.

Visitors were treated to an array of festive food and drink stalls to inspire their Christmas menu and had the chance to stock up on quality products from over ninety hand-picked producers.

Those lucky enough to be there also received top tips from star chefs including Tim McDougall, the head chef at Celtic Manor’s flagship fine-dining restaurant Terry M; as well as being given food for thought by Penny Lewis, the creator of the Culinary Cottage Abergavenny Cookery School, who ran a mini workshop to demonstrate how to make quick and easy edible gifts sure to delight friends and family.

Cathy Green, spokeswoman for the fair, said organisers were thrilled with the success of the event.

“Dubbed the ‘little sister’ of the event in September we expected around 5,000 people to turn out,” she said.

“We were very fortunate that the sun was shining and people were queuing up to buy the tickets ahead of the opening.

“We had had a very good turn out and some fabulous stalls as well as lots of entertainment.

“People were feeling very festive.”

Orgsanisers were also proud to present the first ever SweetieFest, celebrating the tradition if British sweets to provide visitors with the chanced to get hands on in creating old-time favourites such as toffee making and sugar sculptures.

A whole range of food and drink was available at the event, from beers and ciders to fish and seafood from a various suppliers including Gwent favourites Blaengawney Cider and Wye Valley Cheese.

But it wasn’t all about the food with entertainment featuring performances from bands such as The Elastic Band who played a selection of fun and funky music with a comedy twist and a flavour of Christmas.