THE best of Herefordshire was on show during a foodie bank holiday weekend which pulled in several thousand visitors.

With more than 38,000 people enjoying the Flavours of Herefordshire Festival, visitors, traders and sponsors heralded the weekend a "tasty triumph".

Having outgrown its previous site, the organisers – Visit Herefordshire – moved the festival to a new location on Castle Green.

And visitors from across the region were keen for a taste of Herefordshire’s best growers, producers and cooks.

Celebrity chef Mary Berry took to the Celebrity Theatre on Saturday where she shared some of her own cooking expertise with a large audience.

On the menu were the likes of lemon meringue pie, beef and pasta primavera.

She left the site having given two sold-out demonstrations, signed in excess of 300 books and having walked around the site talking and purchasing from a number of exhibitors.

The event was not only a success for the celebrity visitors; local traders exhibited their wares in the festival's large marquees and attracted swathes of people keen to try and buy some tasty treats.

By mid afternoon on Saturday, many traders had even sold out, having to re-stock for the rest of the weekend.

Sunday was a family day, with strong sales for local entertainer Sea Legs Puppet Theatre and special guest CBeebies’ Mister Maker.

With a poor forecast for Monday, organisers swung into action and with additional under cover seating areas, the food pavilion trading well and a full day of local chef demonstrations in the Celebrity Theatre, the festival was hailed as a great success despite the erratic weather.

Festival director Becci O’Reilly said: "The new site worked well despite poor weather on the third day with a great vibe in the spacious food and drink village area. With a wonderful atmosphere, visitors stayed to enjoy the music and tasty local food and drink. We estimate the festival generates £3m in revenue for the county in both direct and indirect sales – surely something to be applauded and supported.”

On Twitter, Luke Conod, managing director of FIT, reported that trade was up more than 60 per cent at his Widemarsh Street store on Saturday and more than 100 per cent on Sunday during the festival.

Dates for the 2015 event are yet to be confirmed but interested parties can keep an eye on the festival website for details at flavoursofherefordshire.co.uk.