BRITAIN’S largest outdoor cooking festival returned to Colchester as 12,000 people turned out at Lower Castle Park to sample meats and delicacies from around the globe.

The Smoke and Fire Festival, which returned to Colchester after a successful début last year, ran more than 125 stalls, with visitors and organisers treated to glorious weather.

Gazette: Bouncy - Denise Yemelianenko, aged three, enjoys the funBouncy - Denise Yemelianenko, aged three, enjoys the fun

The festival director, Ashley Peniston-Bird, said visitors could “eat their way around the world” as chefs offered Mexican, Korean, and American dishes for people to savour.

He said: “Some of the stalls ran our because they were so popular – it was a foodie’s paradise.

Gazette: Chillis at the ready - competitors in the chilli eating competition get ready at the Smoke and Fire festival in Lower Castle Park, ColchesterChillis at the ready - competitors in the chilli eating competition get ready at the Smoke and Fire festival in Lower Castle Park, Colchester

“There was a lot of barbeque smoke wafting around, so even on Upper Castle Park people were getting those smells and wanting to come down.

“It’s always nice to see friends meeting up with friends at these events.”

Gazette: Civic duty - Colchester mayor and mayoress Tim Young and Nicola GoodchildCivic duty - Colchester mayor and mayoress Tim Young and Nicola Goodchild

The Smoke and Fire Festival was first launched in 2017 and was an instant hit when it came to north Essex two years later, when 19,500 turned out for the event in Maldon.

This year also saw notable names make an appearance, including Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn from BBC One’s Sam and Shauna’s Big Cook-Out, as well as BBC Essex’s Rob Jelly to judge the British Open Barbeque Championship.

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Extreme eating events proved popular over the weekend, which included one challenge called the hot wings eating challenge.

Competitors had to eat 12 chicken wings doused in hot sauce and chilli sprinkles in the space of five minutes – and to make it tougher still, the contestants were required to wait another five minutes after eating their final chicken wing, during which time they had to resist downing a bottle of pain-relieving lemon hooch.

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Colchester’s radio station, Actual Radio, acted as the main broadcaster for the event, which Mr Peniston-Bird hailed as an overall success.

Gazette: Tasty - Brad Slipday enjoys a massive steakTasty - Brad Slipday enjoys a massive steak

“Obviously the good weather helped – it was very hot on Sunday and people were enjoying staying out with family and friends.

“We also had 69 who attended the event and the looked very happy.”