CROWDS descended to Melksham’s first ever Food and River Festival over the weekend which organisers have said was a sizzling success.

Around 8,000 people crossed through the gates during the two-day event which was spread across the River Avon and King George V playing fields.

Adrienne Westbrook, chairman of the organising committee, said the day turned out better than she could have imagined.

She added: “The weather was out of this world and it was brilliantly organised and incredibly well received by the people of Melksham who came out in force to support the day.

“It has taken a year to plan and obviously it has been hard work but the biggest worry for us was the weather. We were so happy that it was beautifully sunny and the day went without a glitch from the time the traders were setting up to the balloon release at the end of the day.”

Kicking off the weekend on Saturday was Littlefest, based in the Littlebrook Centre, a regatta-themed day of outdoor eating, and tastings and samplings of locally supplied products.

Then on Sunday, more than 50 stalls set up in the park to sell local food and drink which also included food demonstrations.

There was also plenty of action on the River Avon, organised by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which gave families the chance to take part in public boat trips and try canoeing.

Mrs Westbrook added: “I think the highlight for me was standing on the balcony of the Adventure Centre to look out and see a sea of people. It was a lovely view to see so many people from Melksham come out to support the event.

“The whole point of combining the two festivals was to celebrate the River Avon coming through the town but also to show people what Melksham has to offer and a lot of people got to know parts of the town they never knew of before.”

A highlight of this year’s festival saw brave competitors with a passion for pungent peppers test the strength of their taste buds by eating chillies of increasing intensity – all of which were provided by the Wiltshire Chilli Farm.

Thomas Chiad was crowned winner and won a £150 voucher for the Milk Churn for his attempt at eating a reaper chilli which exceeds 1.5m on the Scoville scale.

Mrs Westbrook said: “Around 3,000 must have watched the chilli eating competition and Hayley Spencer was the commentator which is was what made it. She was so funny and she made the people who were taking part in the competition suffer even more.”