20,000 flock to Ludlow Food Festival

More than 20,000 visitors were flocking to Ludlow this weekend to enjoy the town's annual food and drink festival.

The event has set tills jingling in local food shops and at hotels and restaurants with an estimated boost of more than £1 million to the town's economy.

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Festival organisers were celebrating the talents of people of all abilities; from amateur bakers and students to some of the greatest chefs in the world.

Festival director Beth Heath said she was delighted so many people were visiting Ludlow to enjoy the town's food festival.

She said: "It has grown beyond all recognition since 1995, when it was launched. It really is a highlight of the Ludlow calendar.

"The opening day was a huge success and we're looking forward to welcoming lots more people through the weekend." Top chef Claude Bosi, the twin Michelin-starred cook who regularly features in an annual list of the world's 50 best cooks, opened a 'pop-up' restaurant as he enjoyed a homecoming to the town where he opened his first restaurant.

Mr Bosi also found time to encourage the next generation of stars by offering words of encouragement in a competition to find the region's best up-and-coming cook aged under 25.

Mr Bosi, the chef-patron of Hibiscus, in Mayfair, said: "It is an incredible event and there are some great chefs and great producers here. It was an honour to judge the Skillbuilders' Young Chefs Contest and there were some great young cooks."