PICTURES: Guests celebrate Somerset Day at eat:Taunton

The fine weather meant the town was busy all day and filled with a wealth of local food producers from all over Somerset, providing delicious local food and drink products.

Co-organiser Bev Milner Simonds told us: "We are thrilled with how eat:Taunton went on Saturday. We had had such positivity beforehand, but the number of people and the great feedback on the day has blown us away. Our producers brought more stock than ever before.

“A special thank you to St Mary Magdelene Church and our neighbours on Hammet Street who welcomed us so warmly.

“The Retreat Demo Stage, in the church, had great engagement and enthusiasm from the crowds of curious families. The Hawksmoor Cookery School in the Church Yard was busy all day and we will be returning with another vegan cookery school next year.

“Thank you to Wilkie, May & Tuckwood and First Buses who helped us with our publicity. Many thanks to Somerset County, the Visit Taunton team and Taunton Deane Borough Council who encouraged and supported us. And we hope that everyone enjoyed the festival soundtrack, face painter, the balloon modeller and the entertainment."

Co-organiser, Sarah Milner Simonds, added: "We want to say a big thank you to the Taunton Eagles members who supported the event by stewarding all day. They did Taunton proud.

“Congratulations to InTents Catering who won the people's choice for Best in Show, sponsored by Old Mill Accounting and Secret Orchard Cider who were the sponsor’s Choice.

“Our initiative to be 100% single use plastic free and use compostable packaging worked very well - but we know we need more bins.

“Eat:Taunton will return on 11 May 2019 - celebrating Somerset Day again in the heart of the county town."