Having to stop your festival early due to pouring rain might sound like bad luck; but the volunteers in charge of Ottery’s ninth Food and Families Festival on Saturday, September 3, feel pretty fortunate, according to Ruud Jansen Venneboer, festival organiser.

This was the first time in 10 years that rain had stopped play but it came late enough in the day for almost 3,000 people to turn out and enjoy a great range of demonstrations, entertainment and, of course, food and drink.

Ruud told the Herald:"A very positive first was the Wellbeing Tent, which proved popular and was busy all day.

"Regular favourites, the chef’s demonstrations and hands-on workshops were also very well attended, while visitors could browse twenty market stalls, eighteen exhibits in the Ottery town area, and choose from ten different hot food providers."

The Nick Agg-Manning Cup for best trader was presented to Forage and Combe, a new local company making wild garlic flavoured oils and salts.

Meanwhile, the Ottery St Mary Silver Band launched a varied programme of entertainment on the Samosa Lady’s Spice Stage, children and parents enjoyed activities with Alan Bruford’s Forest School and Dramatots East Devon and Exeter, and everyone was excited to meet a very well-behaved dinosaur.

Rudd added it was a 'great day all round'.