CROWDS turned out to enjoy an event which organisers believe is putting the county on the map for its medieval history.

The Leominster Medieval Festival took place on Saturday, with organiser David Fitzcount estimating that several thousand people turned out to enjoy the event throughout the day.

Dry weather helped to bring in visitors who enjoyed re-enactments, dancing, music and homemade crafts on offer from 35 stalls.

Mr Fitzcount, chairman of the Leominster Medieval Society, said: "We had compliments from both local people and visitors to the area. Some had come from quite a way. We are beginning to get the word out there. There were people that had come down specifically to come to the festival."

However, sister event, the Medieval Pageant, which usually takes place over two days in the summer, will not be going ahead this year due to a revised charging structure for highway licenses which means organisers of small-scale community events now have to pay a fee of £125 for each road closure.

Mr Fitzcount said: "I am very disappointed that we do not have the support of the council at county level and town level in a way that allows events that are completely free of charge to the public to continue.

"It is different if it is a commercial event but this isn't in any shape or form. We do it because we think it's important to put something back in."

The charges were approved by Herefordshire Council last year.

Mr Fitzcount added that the event was also popular with children this year, who were able to find out about local history in a practical way.

He said: "The event is beginning to put Herefordshire on the map in terms of its medieval heritage. People are beginning to realise just how important the county was in medieval times."