Festival of food and drink hailed as beacon

The Dales Festival of Food and Drink was launched eight years ago to combat the aftershock of the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, which crippled the nation's rural economy.

This year's event is being held throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, and organisers claimed that it had given businesses from across the Dales fresh hope following the latest economic crisis as they have had the chance to showcase their produce to thousands of visitors.

More than 7,000 people travelled from across the north of England and as far afield as Plymouth for the first two days of this year's festival, which is being held on the outskirts of Leyburn in Richmondshire.

One of the festival's founders, Gerald Hodgson, who lives with his wife, Ann, in Spennithorne, near Leyburn, said: "The festival was first organised as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and we would like to think of it as a beacon of optimism.

"The recession has meant that a lot of people have faced an extremely tough time but everyone was upbeat when I went out to meet them, which is very heartening given the current economic circumstances.

"The festival has always been about giving people a taste of the tradition and heritage of the Dales, and that is hopefully what we are being able to do once again this year."

More than 80 exhibitors are displaying in the food marquee, including companies such as the Daleside Brewery,

the Wensleydale Creamery, Raydale Preserves and the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Company.

Brass bands from Reeth, Leyburn and Muker as well as jazz musicians are appearing during the three-day event, which comes to an end today.