STEADY rain and heavy winds throughout the day didn’t dampen spirits at the annual Newcastle Emlyn Food Festival on Saturday which saw over 2,000 people coming through its gates.

Held at the King George V Playing Fields, the food festival celebrated its seventh year with three local celebrity chefs and over 30 local food producers.

Nia ap Tegwyn, one of the food festival committee members was delighted with the event.

Nia said: “The weather was really foul and it was such a shame that the festival ended at 4pm and so did the awful weather!

“But it was great to see so much support and even though we were down 1,000 people at the gate, many food producers had sold all of their produce.”

Brian Jones from Castell Howell officially opened the festival that saw chefs Mandy Wilcox of Deli Delights, Simon Briscoe of Gwesty’r Emlyn Hotel and S4C’s Daniel Wilcox, who has recently opened a cafe in Carmarthen town, taking part.

The entertainment stage organised by Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr saw local schools, choirs and individuals taking part as well as a visit by the popular Sali Mali.