DELICACIES from East Lancashire and beyond were on offer as Darwen hosted its first food festival.

And stunned organisers said the event was better than they ever expected and promised a ‘bigger and better’ event next year.

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There were 33 stalls selling produce from pies, sausages and cheeses to jerk chicken, Spanish meatballs and ostrich burgers.

The event was funded by Darwen Town Council, costing around £2,500, and was organised by a team of volunteers led by Coun Brian Taylor and deli owner Carlo Ricioppo, whose shop Deli Carlo is in the front of the market hall.

Mr Ricioppo said: “It has been a great turnout and my thanks go to all the people who have come, it makes it all worthwhile.

“We have a superb selection of stalls and the quality of produce people are putting on is to notch.

“I have been getting great feedback from traders and customers alike.

“And it isn’t just local people who are here, we have had people come from Cheshire, Cumbria and Yorkshire who have heard about the event.

“It has been very good for the town and the market has been busy.

“I just hope people have spilled into the other areas like Market Street and found out what we are about here in Darwen and what a great community and town we are.”

Coun Brian Taylor, who represents the Sunnyhurst ward on both Blackburn with Darwen and Darwen Town councils, said: “I am really, really chuffed with the support.

“There are just so many people here and to say this is our first year it is just phenomenal.

“Next year we can make it bigger and better and spread it out throughout the town. I would also like to thank the two market attendants who have helped set it all up as they were here at 6am and stayed right until the end to take everything down.”

And Darwen resident Maurice Rogers was delighted as he tucked into an ostrich burger. He said: “This is a great idea.”