A new event in a south Norfolk town to celebrate locally made food has been hailed a success by residents, businesses and visitors.

Diss Mercury: Harleston gets the bunting out to celebrate the eventHarleston gets the bunting out to celebrate the event (Image: Archant)

A Taste of Harleston took place on Saturday as part of the Waveney Valley Food and Drink Festival.

Numerous events took place across the town including a country style market, food trail, cookery demonstrations and baking competitions.

Andy Orford, manager of butchers D A Browne & Son, ran a barbecue selling a range of locally produced hot dogs.

He said: 'We had 20 different varieties of sausage on offer and there was a lot of interest in them - we were really busy all day.'

Emma Johnson, cluster co-ordinator at Archbishop Sancroft High School, made sure that year 8 Food Technology students at the School, and pupils from feeder primary and nursery schools, got involved in the event.

She said: 'We were so pleased that families took up the challenge of the Ready Steady Bake sausage roll competition, and all the schools made time for the children to think about the food they eat and create their own recipes, dishes and artwork.'

Prior to the event butcher Chris Pepperell visited the high school to assess and judge dishes made by the pupils and on Saturday the overall winner was named as 12-year-old Ryan Bartram of Harleston who made a sausage wrap with a piquant sauce.

Pepperell Meats presented a trophy to the school to ensure the cookery competition is an annual event.

On the same day the Ready Steady bake competition was judged by Stephen Plume, also known as The Sausage King, who named Will Colman of Harleston as the overall winner.

Nicky Stainton, from Harleston's Future, said: 'We are really pleased with how the day went. We estimate that there were at least 3,000 people in town.

'More than 40 businesses and organisations and a team of 25 volunteers worked together to bring people into Harleston and ensure they had a great experience.

'We have a fantastic community here and everyone pulled out the stops. The atmosphere was great.'

Do you have a Harleston story? Email kate.royall@archant.co.uk or call 01379 651176.