Thousands of people have sampled the delights the county has to offer at Taste Cumbria.

The Cockermouth food festival got under way yesterday with the opening night of the beer festival at the town's Jennings Brewery, run in association with Seaton's Tractor Shed Brewing.

Free demonstrations were on offer from chefs including Andy Beaton, of the Lakes Distillery, Chris Archer, of Cottage in the Wood at Whinlatter, Scott Fairweather, Cumbria’s young chef of the year, and Jon Fell, of the White Mare Hotel in Beckermet.

Chris said: "It's fantastic for Cockermouth and for people to see what I and other people do for a living. It's also important for Cockermouth."

Nutritional therapist Sarah Kekus, TV chef Peter Sidwell, Katie Read and Paul Currie from the Lakes Distillery, wine expert Nick Shill of Shill's in Cockermouth and Andy Walsh, of The Coffee Kitchen, all ran masterclasses at the Cockermouth Kitchen Company premises, which has recently reopened after the December floods.

Mr Sidwell, who ran a pasta masterclass, said: "It's nice to be cooking at home and on my doorstep. It gives people a little taste of what we do at our cookery school."

The beer festival has been a great success and featured acoustic acts including Harrison, Flick, Dan Mason and four-piece band Mojo Rising.

Cockermouth Ukuleles entertained the packed bar area, where more than 30 beers are on offer.

More than 100 producers had stalls on Main Street and many reported their Saturday as being the busiest yet.

Cumbrian producers took centre stage, with items including local bread, pies, cheese, wine and spirits on offer.

Helen Farris, 39, of Cockermouth, was there with husband Stephen, 41, children Thomas, eight, and Catherine, three, and parents-in-law Sue and Peter Farris, 71 and 73, of Deanscales.

She said: "The ice cream has been a highlight for Catherine. It's been nice to get some of the local foods and nice to see different types of bread, Cartmel sticky toffee pudding and Indian wraps."

Joe Thurlowe, 54, of Ghyll Bank, Little Broughton, went along with his children Christopher, 24, William, 22, Roisin, 26 and grandson Charlie, 13 months.

Joe said: "The food is lovely and the pies are great. I can't get enough of them."

Sharon Heron, owner of Fyne Fish on Station Street, was among the stallholders on Main Street.

She said: "It's been great and the weather has helped. You can't not be involved and you've got to be on the street."

The Lakes Distillery's whisky ambassador Jonathan Edwards also made an appearance on Saturday.

Mr Edwards, who recently presented TV coverage of the Paralympics, said: "It's amazing to see a high street which was flooded less than a year ago back and thriving and looking so good.”

Simon Rogan’s pop-up restaurant, at Wood Hall, was a sold-out success.