Thousands pack out The Quarry for Shrewsbury Food Festival - with pictures

The event returned for a sixth year in The Quarry with more than 200 food, drink and artisan craft stalls, two live music stages, cookery demos, hands-on cookery classes, kids cookery, animals, masterclasses and more.

The chefs line-up across the weekend includes TV star Nick Knowles, Robert Swift - fifth generation baker, TV chef Paul Askew, Mytton & Mermaid executive chef Chris Burt, Stuart Collins from Dockett 33 at Whitchurch and Leo Kattou from Simpsons in Birmingham.

Organiser Beth Heath said the event had all the ingredients for a perfect weekend.

"It's just the best weather, with a forecast like we had you can't go wrong," she said.

"We had 26,000 people in over the weekend last year and we'd hope for more than that this year. It's got all the ingredients for a perfect weekend.

"We've got new activities this year, a barbecue competition with the winners going to America, a massive TV screen for the World Cup England game, and we've made the kids area much bigger as we have lots of families that come."

Beth continued: "We have computer coding and creative cooking activities and a big sports area that we didn't have last year.

"The whole point is so kids can have a go at things and then continue if they like them.

"The majority of the businesses are local but we do have a few from further afield. One business, The Garlic Farm, is from the Isle of Wight.

"I hope kids can have a go and get into cooking and take that interest with them as they grow up.

"It's run mostly by volunteers, we've got between 70 and 80 people helping and we couldn't do it without them."

Among the activities on offer was a challenge run by The Wood Brewery, Wistanstow, Craven Arms, to find the county's best "Shropshire Lad" and "Shropshire Lass".

Participants had to compete in a variety of challenges including memory tests with a map of Shropshire and an obstacle course to have a chance at winning £2,000 in cash and a number of other treats.

One youngster enjoying the climbing wall was seven-year-old Sophia Pugh who was being watched by her mother Laura Shelbourne, 32, and younger sister Harlow, aged three.

Miss Shelbourne, a credit management advisor from Shrewsbury, said it was the first time they had been to the festival.

She said: "Sophia was in the Shropshire Sings Choir, it was really good and she loved it.

"Sophia wants to have a go at everything and I'm looking forward to sampling the food."

Members of Shrewsbury's safer neighbourhood team were on hand to chat to the public and offer advice - and let the youngsters try on police hats too.

PC Karena Evans said: "We've been engaging with families and just giving them some community prevention advice and talking about water safety.

"Kids are loving trying on our hats and posing in the 'wanted' sign too."

Youngsters were also having a go at West Mercia Search and Rescue's throw-line training to learn how to save a life if someone enters the river.

Tom Jobburns, from Telford, was at the festival with a group of friends.

The 29-year-old engineer said: "It's a great event, it's good for both the adults and the children.

"There's lots to do for the kids and the adults will be eating and drinking too."