SHOPPERS flocked to Newport to sample the delights available at the city’s annual food festival.

Into its sixth year, the event – which has become one of the city’s highlights – has previously had good luck with the early autumn weather.

But though the showers were regular and heavy on Saturday, they did little to dampen the enthusiasm of those eager to pamper their palettes palates with everything from cakes to Thai curry, from craft beers to flavoured coffee.

More than 80 stalls were open for business on the High Street, Bridge Street and on Westgate Square, while Newport Market and Friars Walk hosted a range of cookery demonstrations.

Among those showing off their skills were festival patron Hywel Jones of Lucknam Park, Masterchef’s Larkin Cen, Simon Crockford of the Celtic Manor, and Steve White of the Ruperra Arms.

The market also hosted the keenly contested final of the Teenchef competition, with Hywel Jones and Larkin Cen having the tricky task of judging the dishes.

As well as being popular among residents of Newport and Gwent, the festival – sponsored this year by the Tiny Rebel brewery – is also attracting the curious from further afield.

Among them was Carol Moore, from Portsmouth, who is visiting relatives in Newport, and who has begun to plan her autumn trip from the South Coast to coincide with the the festival.

“It’s fantastic. There are a lot of these festivals around now, but some of them can be a bit precious,” she said.

“I love this one because it’s not too big but there’s lots of variety, and the people here are lovely.

“Newport has changed so much for the better in the last few years. I come up for the Big Splash and for the food festival, and they’ve not let me down yet.”

From closer to home is Gail Evans, of Cwmbran, who confessed to stocking up on goodies from a range of stalls.

“It’s a once-a-year treat, but there should be more of these types of things here, like a big Christmas market “ she said.

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, leader of Newport council, said: “It was easily the biggest event we’ve held with the stallholders spreading out even further into the city streets. The intermittent showers clearly didn’t put the people of Newport engaging with the event and the plethora if positive comments on social media together with the mingling crowds clearly indicated another successful year for the festival.

“Also the fact that burgeoning Newport businesses now feel confident enough to sponsor the event in partnership with the council shows how far we’ve come in a few short years.”