A RECORD number of visitors flocked to historic Eastnor Castle at the weekend for its third annual food and drink festival.

Almost 4,000 people who travelled to the extravaganza on Saturday and Sunday enjoyed tasting products made in the two counties.

In all, 49 producers set up shop in the special food and drink marquee in the grounds of the castle, near Ledbury.

Speciality cheeses, home-made breads, herbs, home-cured meats, local wines and pickles were just some of the goodies on offer to tempt food-lovers.

"What was interesting was the quality of visitor at this event," said Karen Davies, chief executive of organisers Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF). "It's quite unique for an event such as this, but everybody had a genuine interest in the local and regional food and drink products on offer.

"It's a great opportunity for the producers to tell their stories about how their products are made, rather than it be just a package on the supermarket shelf."

She said HEFF was still waiting for confirmation but it was thought numbers were up 50 per cent on last year, with between 3,500 and 4,000 visitors during the two-days.

On Saturday, celebrity chef Brian Turner cooked up a storm in the special demonstration kitchen, using local produce made by show exhibitors.

"We tried to focus on products available to buy in the marquee," said Mrs Davies. "We printed a booklet containing the special regional recipes created by the chefs. Visitors could see the chef cooking the recipe, buy the produce at the festival, go home and try the recipe from the booklet."

On Sunday it was the turn of celebrity chef Leslie Waters to impress with her culinary skills, again using only local produce.

Producers to fly the flag for regional produce included Philip Rogers, of Lightwood Cheese in Cotheridge, Chrys Titshall, from Malvern Country Meals, Colin Hingston, from Tipsage Farm Flavoured Wines, Newnham Bridge, near Tenbury Wells, and Karen Powell, from Tyrrells Crisps, Leominster.