Thousands of people braved the dark clouds and drizzle to turn out in force for the first day of Shropshire’s largest food and drink festival.

The early wet weather yesterday led to problems with car parking, but the organisers of Ludlow Food Festival said they had put measures in place to tackle the problem over the rest of the weekend.

They claimed it had been a very successful first day.

Visitors descended on the town from all over the country, with some first-time visitors describing the tents and marquees as being “like the Tardis”.

Beth Heath, operations director for Ludlow Food Festival, said: “It was getting a bit wet and slippery because of the rain overnight. We’ve put straw down.

“People have been going to the old park and ride site at the eco park, rather than the new one by the football club, which we have signposted, and then saying the buses aren’t coming, but that’s not us. We’ve done what we can to put things in place for today.

“We think numbers have held up despite the weather.”

Dianne Dainton from Ebbw Vale, who was visiting with her husband Clive, said: “It’s much bigger than we expected, the tents are like the Tardis, there are so many producers.”

Gemma Page, from Nottingham, said: “I came for the first time last year, I heard about it through a friend and decided I would come again this year.

“I just love Ludlow so I will probably come every year now.”

Exhibitors reported brisk trade. Wil Wilson, of Wil’s Smokehouse in Herefordshire, said: “It’s too busy, but it’s fantastic.

“I’ve been coming for five or six years and this the first time I’ve got through three days’ stock in one day.”

Maggie Wright, from Ludlow’s Deli on the Square, said: “It’s been a really good start to the show, we’ve had lots of people in early and the weather doesn’t seem to have put anyone off so far.”

Ed Wood, of Wood’s Brewery at Wistanstow, said: “It’s been good, we’ve had a nice, steady trade.”

By Hannah Costigan