One of the highlights of this increasingly popular annual Watercress Festival in New Alresford was a festival cavalcade, when a horse and cart, followed by a procession of Morris dancers, musicians and street entertainers, The Green Man and local schoolchildren, brought the first leaves of the season into the town, which were distributed to festival goers by the watercress May King and Queen.

This year's watercress cookery demonstrations starred several celebrity chefs, who all live and work in Hampshire.

Two award-winning chefs from Winchester's Lainston House Hotel - executive chef Andy MacKenzie (Hampshire's Food and Drink Chef of the Year) and head pastry chef Mark Tilling (2008 British Chocolate Master) gave stunning demonstrations, along with executive chef Paul Bingham, from Romsey's Silk Hotel.

Jennifer Laing, who runs the catering company, Cresson Creative - which won the prestigious Gold Star in the national Great Taste Awards 2008 – also wowed the crowds.

Making its debut in Alresford was a very special Hampshire Farmers' Market, which set up shop in Broad Street, to mark the fact that it is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It featured more nearly 50 local producers, offering a superb range of local food and drink - everything from watercress pesto, watercress scones and even watercress chocolates.

The World Watercress Eating Championships were back by popular demand and, despite the cool and rather windy weather, thousands of visitors enjoyed eating the green stuff accompanied by live music, street entertainment, children's cookery workshops and face painting - to name but a few of the festival's attractions.

New Alresford's Watercress Festival is sponsored by The Watercress Alliance, formed from the UK's three leading watercress companies; Vitacress, Alresford Salads and The Watercress Company.

Additional sponsors include the Alresford Chamber of Commerce, New Alresford Town Council, Hampshire Farmers' Markets, Hampshire County Magazine and Lainston House Hotel, near Winchester.

A festival spokeswoman said afterwards: "The whole event was a spectacular success. The weather didn't spoil anyone's enjoyment of the occasion. It is going from strength to strength. We have already asked if the farmers' market will come back again next year - and they have indicated that they will."

l The Hampshire Food Festival is running throughout July and many exciting events are planned. Visit the Food Festival pages at www.hampshirefare.co.uk for information.