Oswestry buzzed to the sights and sounds of the town's popular food festival as visitors flocked to the first day of the event.

Saturday, September 18 saw a busy start to the annual Oswestry Food Festival with large crowds packing the streets of the town centre as food and drink exhibitors from across the region brought their baking, brewing and simmering range of goods and treats for locals and visitors across the weekend.

Mayor Cllr Mark Jones and Mayoress Ruth Jones opened the event with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 10am, with performers and artists making up a colourful street scene to greet visitors.

Festivities are set to to continue tomorrow, Sunday September 19 between 10am and 4pm.

"It's been really busy so far," said Chris Toller of Henstone Distillery.

"Even at around 10am this morning we were doing plenty of trade and it's still getting busier.

"Our main concern has been selling out so we might have to go back and get some more stock for a couple of lines! But it's a nice problem to have."

Gerald Davies, who owns the Berriew cider company, said it was great to see visitor events back open after a tough pandemic-hit 18 months.

"It's not been easy over the past two years and it's just a shame the show season is coming to an end really," he said.

"It's great to see so many people out and about at the shows and I think people are really happy to be back out and about again."

The day also saw the TNS Fun Day take place on Saturday, September 18 at Cae Glas Park - with the Global Grooves Music in the Park set to take place at the same location on Sunday, September 19.

A varied selection of produce went on sale including African, Middle-Eastern, Malaysian, Indian, and Spanish cooking plus the pick of local produce from sausages to hog roast, and crepes to ciders.

For those with a sweet tooth, traditional cakes, cupcakes and fancies are also on offer.

There will be award-winning ciders and ales from both sides of the border on offer, as well as cocktails, liqueurs and wines from near and far.

The festival will also welcome Oswestry’s own gin and real ale producers.

For more information, and a list of exhibitors, visit www.oswestryfoodfestival.co.uk or visit Oswestry Food & Drink Festival on Facebook.