A record number of people attended this year's Porthleven Food and Musical Festival, which is estimated to have topped 35,000 visitors.

Festival chairman David Turnbull said he was "over the moon" with how the weekend had gone, believing the volunteers behind the event had got the balance right this year.

He told the Packet: "We worked really hard to get the right layout. We had a great variety of food but also a range of music as well. There was something for everybody.

"We have really got back to what the food festival should be all about, which is a great mix of entertainment around the harbour and lots of smiling faces."

The festival was opened on Saturday, once again, by patron Antony Worrall Thompson before he took part in a "Ready Stead Cook Off" with Jude Kereama of Kota and Kota Kai in the Chef’s Theatre.

They were followed by a line up of top chefs from the area giving demonstrations, finishing with Jack Stein and his head chef Simon Allot of Rick Stein’s Porthleven restaurant.

More than 150 exhibitors offered a large selection of street food and produce to take away, with the Fishermen’s Barbecue set up on Breageside and arts and crafts stalls the other side of the harbour.

A bridge put up just for the two days allowed visitors to cross the harbour for £1 - towards the construction and insurance costs - rather than walk all the way around, which helped each congestion in that area.

In the Family Field at the Moors there was circus skills and arts and crafts workshops, while the nearby Literary and Acoustic Tent offered talks and performances from authors, film makers and singers, finishing with the Cadgwith Singers.

One of the most popular attractions for younger visitors was the arrival of the St Ives Mermaid, who swum up into the afternoon late on Saturday afternoon to the great excitement of those watching.

On the music side, the Lime Kiln Stage featured everything from samba to rock, gospel to big band and the music of Porthleven Town Band, while after dark the Shipyard Stage hosted three party nights, organised by Arc Live, who are behind the Porthleven and Hallowe'en Masked Ball.

Businesses also got involved by decorating their windows to this year's theme of Under the Sea, with Coscutter and the Ship Inn sharing first prize. 

Saturday was rounded off with a fireworks display across the harbour.

Sunday was dedicated to all things pudding, with the return of the Great Porthleven Bake Off as well as demonstrations, performances and a WI Tea Party preceding a charity auction.

All daytime entertainment remained free to enjoy, with David adding: "The whole ethos of what we do is to keep it an open venue. That was how it started - a free event for everyone to enjoy."