THE organisers of the Dales Festival of Food and Drink last weekend were applauded up and down Wensleydale this week for so successfully bringing in thousands of visitors and sharing the bounty with many others.

Not only did the tulip festival at Constable Burton Hall, Aysgarth church and Spennithorne school benefit from the event in Leyburn but many businesses in the town also did well this year.

Spennithorne School held a car boot sale opposite the festival site on Sunday and raised over £2,500. "We had a brilliant day, it was fantastic," said the treasurer, Sue Ramsey. She said 110 cars booked-in to sell goods and many of those who went to buy gave generous donations. The refreshments stall did a roaring trade.

And they even provided over-spill parking for the festival when the main car park and that at Tennants were almost completely full. Andrew Leathley of the town's Quality Fare supermarket commented that the new festival site had solved the problems of the previous two years when local people could not park in the town for several days before and after it.

"I am very pleased for the organisers," he said. "It was nearly perfect this year. It was very well organised."

Some felt sad that the atmosphere of the festival had been lost by moving it out of the town centre but in general most cafes, pubs and businesses were still busy. The deputy mayor, jeweller Ian Barker, said he had seen a 50pc increase in sales this year compared with the same weekend in 2003.

"The festival has been wonderful this year. It's true we've lost the atmosphere but there's the feeling that you can breath.

"It's been very successful. And people have said that the new site is safer for children."

The mayor, Coun Trixie Walker, was also delighted with the way the festival had brought people into the area and added: "I think it is good for the town."

The committee of volunteers who run the festival did all they could to advertise other events and facilities in Wensleydale and particularly Leyburn town centre.

People went into the town on the free shuttle bus or walked. Many children thoroughly enjoyed searching the shop windows for clues to the festival quiz.

With a refreshments marquee at the festival this year the cafes and pubs in Leyburn were not so crowded. Those working in the town's cafes said that this meant people could relax and enjoy their food and drink without being asked to leave quickly to make room for those queuing outside.

Trade at the fish and chip shop was also better this year. Gerry Martin at the pet shop said: "This year we were getting our regulars in on Saturday which we didn't get last year. Almost everyone said the festival was great this time. And it was great to see so many people walking around the town."