Families friends and foodies sampled the best Dorset has to offer when a popular festival returned for its sixth year.

Dorset Food and Arts Festival took place on Saturday at Poundbury’s Queen Mother Square and was a huge crowd pleaser – despite a brief but torrential downpour.

The county’s best produce was on offer alongside artwork from the best local talent, with the event supporting charities Weldmar, Fortuneswell Cancer Trust, the Dorchester Opportunity Group and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

TV chef Lesley Waters, who has her own cookery school in the county, officially opened the festival before demonstrating her cookery skills at the site’s demo kitchen.

Dorset Echo:

Entertainment was provided by Dorchester Performing Arts group, Amy and the Twins and Pop Club, a 12-piece made up of local teenagers.

Aside from plentiful food stalls, visitors were treated to a variety of art stands inside the Jubilee Hall.

Festival organiser Miriam Phillips said: “It’s been a great sixth festival, we’re so pleased so many people continue to come out to celebrate the best of Dorset.”

Vic Irvine, of Cerne Abbas Brewery, was kept busy as he poured pints for people taking cover from the rain.

He said: “It’s so lovely to see people here we do not usually see in the pub. We were happy to accommodate people under our pink gazebo but the sun did come out.

“For us, it’s all about keeping it local.”

The festival is a partnership between Dorset Food and Drink, Dorset Farmers Markets and the Duchy of Cornwall, with support from the county’s leading food and drink businesses and the Poundbury business community.

It began as a celebration of Dorset artisan products and music during the Olympic Games in 2012.

Katherine Wright, of Dorset Food and Drink said: “I think it’s been great. I get involved in lots of festivals and I think this one is really good to get involved in; it supports local charities and people sample all the delights of local food and drink producers.”

Mrs Wright says the event is growing in popularity. “There’s a real mix of people here,” she said. “Old, young, male, female; there are all sorts of people and more than there has been before. Everyone disappeared under the gazebos during the rain but it’s nice to see that people stayed.”