THOUSANDS poured into the city when Truro Food Festival made a triumphant return over the last weekend in September.

Street food stalls joined local growers on Lemon Quay, while Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth cooked up a storm in the demonstration kitchen, signing copies of his latest recipe book and posing for selfies with queues of fans.

Graham Bradshaw, chair of Truro Farmers Market and part of the team that organised the festival, said: “The show is back. Saturday was crazy – the city came alive. The park and ride was very busy, and a lot of people came in on the train.

“When it was raining, people piled into the demonstration tent. We’re already planning next year’s event, and would love to hear people’s feedback on what worked.”

Outside the main festival complex, brave-hearted souls competed in a chilli-eating contest at the Tapyard Riverside. Competitors progressed through ten rounds, from the mild Santa Fe to the scorching Carolina Reaper, with only a glass of milk for support. “There were red eyes, a lot of sweating and probably some difficult mornings the following day,” laughed Scott Hall of Probus company Cornish Chillies.

And Ost Eatery held its first alfresco pop-up event in High Cross, setting up trestle tables against the magnificent backdrop of the cathedral and serving up crispy monkfish and sirloin steak in idyllic weather conditions.

Owner Lou Rose said: “We were so lucky with the weather, which was awful on Friday and Sunday. As soon as it had finished, people were asking when the next one would be.”