SOME delicious treats were on offer at the second Monmouthshire Food Festival of the year this weekend.

The popular two-day event in the spectacular surroundings of Caldicot Castle saw more than 30 food and drink producers and other companies showing off their wares, from tasty pies to delicious cakes and from handmade chocolate to home brewed beer and cider.

Although Saturday started off grey and overcast, the sun soon came out and with it hundreds of visitors looking to sample and buy some tasty treats.

Speaking on Saturday afternoon organiser Charlotte Greig said she was pleased by how many people had visited the event.

“The weather has improved since this morning and more people have come which is fantastic,” she said.

“I don’t know numbers but we had about 2,500 people earlier this year.”

Among the small companies exhibiting at the event was Llanwern-based Avril’s Country Kitchen, with owner Jamie Purnell showing off a range of handmade jams and preserves.

“It’s a good little festival,” he said. “We’ve done it three times so far.”

He added all the fruit used in his produce was picked locally.

“We’ve got permission to pick from two farms in the village and another in the Caldicot Levels,” he said.

Also exhibiting was Newport-based Fresh Food Events, which runs catering services for a range of events and was offering visitors a taste of the kind of food they can provide. Employee Tom Steer said he was delighted by how many people had popped by the stall.

“It’s going really well,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”

Visitors also enjoyed displays and talks from some top Welsh chefs and food producers, while volunteers from Guide Dogs Cymru along with some friendly pooches proved a particular highlight with younger visitors.

Frank Greig from the charity was on hand to meet visitors and guide them around a sensory unit, where people were invited to put on a blindfold and feel their way around a portable cabin with various surfaces on the walls and floor to get an idea of what life is like every day for people with sight problems.

“It’s been really busy,” he said.

“We’ve had a fantastic number of people going through the sensory unit.”

The charity also benefited from fundraising at the event including a raffle and other events.

Demonstrator Nathan Foy was also at the festival and said he was happy by how many people had stopped by to meet the dogs and find out more about the charity’s work.

“Most people think we are an animal charity but really we’re a people charity,” he said.

“We’re more interested in getting people out and about.”

The Monmouthshire Food Festival is held twice a year in the spring and the autumn. For more information visit monmouthshirefoodfestival.co.uk.