MORE than 500 free cream teas were served up to visitors at Darlington's Food Festival.

The event in the Market Square was organised by Darlington Borough Council's markets section.

Stallholders tempted visitors with jams, meats, game and fruit pies, farmhouse baked cakes and biscuits, pickles, honey and organic produce.

A choice of arts and crafts, cards and hand-made soaps were also on offer at Friday's event.

For the more energetic customers there was a tea dance and the reward of a free cream tea for all dancers and market goers.

Councillor Chris McEwan said: "The perfect weather was the icing on the cake to what has been a hugely popular event enjoyed by all.

"The festival brought to the town a wide range of quality locally produced goods, giving shoppers in the town even more choice."

A number of Darlington businesses supported the event. Preston Villiers provided the scones, Robin Blair donated the strawberries and main prize in the dancing competition, and Flowers by Nattrass provided the table decorations.