WAS he customer 17,501 or 18,001? The organisers were not too sure, but Richard Whiteley, the popular TV personality, was one of the last to go shopping in the food marquee as the exhausted but elated stallholders began packing up late Monday afternoon.

He and Andrew Thwaite had made a great team during the afternoon in the theatre tent and had the audience laughing all the way through the demonstration.

"It was great fun. I've never made chocolates before and I thoroughly enjoyed myself," Mr Whiteley said.

On his late shopping trip he passed Suzanne Stirk, who had launched Fortmayne's King Richard III Blue cheese at the festival.

"We sold out of it by 11.30 each day," she said.

The festival also proved a successful launch site for the Dales Quality Meat Company, with many wanting to sample its beef and lamb, which had come right from "pasture to plate". Personnel answered many searching questions when they made a presentation in the theatre marquee.

"The message seems to be getting across about buying good local produce," said one of the festival organisers, Margaret Knight.

"We had good audiences in the theatre marquee throughout the festival and there were a lot of questions about where the food had been grown and produced."

She congratulated all the chefs who had taken part on their great performances and some of the superb, exciting dishes that had been produced.

They had enjoyed working in the kitchen specially made for them by Andrew Reaks and his team from County Kitchens. And their audience was glad to be able to watch everything in detail thanks to the overhead televisions.

Many were only too glad to sit down and be away from the crowded food marquee. Even though this had been extended to cover the whole of the Market Place, it was jam-packed with people for most of the festival.

Like last year, many stallholders found they could barely keep up with demand. Derek Kettlewell. of Raydale Preserves, said they had done as well as last year and praised the organisers.

"This is one of the best organised events I attend - and I go to a lot," he said.

"We will be back next year," said Colin Garner, whose special packs of salads, vegetables and fruits had sold so well. Like Carricks and Norman Whorlton, Garners are regulars at Leyburn's Friday market. Carricks were also delighted with the success of their first year at the festival, whereas Mr Whorlton led the way last year.

Among those who came to see the festival for themselves were William Hague MP and his wife, Ffion. With attendance up by about 20pc on last year, locals were yet again amazed at the sheer number of people who flocked to this small market town.

"We've had some very nice compliments," said Mrs Knight. "But we still have a lot of issues to address. But those who threw themselves into the festival got a lot out of it."

That included the army of volunteers who helped. Wensleydale Rotary Club again provided security throughout the night, with some being involved with other events during the day.

Local British Legion members manned the park and ride facility and, on occasions, were worried that they would run out of parking spaces. Leyburn Medical Practice provided emergency cover.

Several shops, restaurants and the pubs did a roaring trade. One shop reported having its best sales in one day and another was still busy at 5.30 on Monday afternoon.

But not all local business people were so pleased and the organisers will soon begin evaluating the overall impact of the festival