It was another incredibly successful Bridport Food and Beer Festival - one of the most popular events in the town's calendar.

Despite the disappointing weather, people turned up in their hundreds - and although not yet ratified, it is believed to be more than 5,000, which may even be better than previous years - to enjoy food and drink from more than 50 local producers and suppliers.

The cookery theatre was buzzing all day and was the home for the day for a number of local chefs, such as Gill Meller, Pam Corbin, Jemima Giblin from Leakers Bakery, Chris Chatfield head chef at Station Kitchen, and Mark Hix with Sally Allen who cooked up some seafood dishes that were sold to members of the audience in aid of Fisherman's Mission. Around £230 was raised.

For children there was a full day of free foodie fun to enjoy. In the children marquee, children were invited to celebrate the pleasure of making and sharing food together by preparing the dishes, drink and decorations for their own special 'all taste no waste tea party'.

Ines Cavill, who organised the children's activities and also looks after the community cooking kit which is available for all to use, said: "We were delighted to see over 50 children sit down together to enjoy the delicious tea party that had been made during the day's sessions in the marquee - and using the terrific Bridport Community Cooking Kit that has everything needed to prepare, cook and eat a collective feast."

In the youth zone, kindly organised and managed by Bridport Youth Club, the theme was Dorset Farming, where they made butter, cheese biscuits, put names to the scarecrows that had been made at youth club, and competed for prizes for naming the joints of meat you get from a pig.

When visitors had tired of shopping, they were able to sit and enjoy a cup of Dorset Tea with milk from Hangers Dairy, cake made by Colmers WI or a cream tea with scones from West Bay Tearoom and listen to the programme of live music, put together by Chris Deacon of Bridport Folk Festival, and of course visit the Bridport Round Table Beer Festival.

The theme for the festival was reducing food waste - making sure we eat all of the food we buy or grow is an important way to reduce waste, conserve resources and save money. The 'Love Food Hate Waste' tent was dedicated to the theme and was full of information and demonstrations to show us all how to reduce food from the bin, cook seasonally, preserve foods and save energy. 

Special guest was eco-nutritionist Daphne Lambert who with Gill Meller, Pam Corbin and Simon Ford were put on the spot and given food from the fridge to say what they would cook with it. This year's cookery competition also followed the theme including creating an inventive recipe using up vegetables, a recipe using leftover bread, making a quick pickle with vegetable odds and ends and a pesto using greens.

Kathy Green, chairman of Bridport Local Food Group, said: "It was lovely to welcome people back to Asker Meadows after the two years break and to see whole families coming to enjoy and celebrate with us local food and drink.

"Not running for two years gave us time to rethink the layout of the field - we used more of the field and decided not to have the traditional food producers tent to enable people to trade and shop outside in the fresh air. We also added live music and entertainment to the programme which was all very well received.

"We cannot thank enough the local businesses who generously sponsor the festival and the many food and drink businesses who provided us with the most amazing prizes for the raffle which raised circa £1,000, which will be shared between two worthy charities: the Burnt Chef Project, which provides mental health help and support to the UK hospitality trade, and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

"As always, we pay special thanks to Bridport Town Council, in particular the town surveyor, Daryl Chambers, and his team, who are exceptional. The event certainly wouldn't be able to go ahead without them."

Thank you to Neil Barnes and Ines Cavill for the photos.