FOOD lovers feasted on an island’s delights at a two-day festival.

Hundreds of people visited the Mersea Island Food, Drink and Leisure Festival, which was held at Mersea Vineyard, East Mersea.

The festival, now in its second year, aimed to give visitors a flavour of the best food and drink produced on the island.

About 80 stallholders showcased their produce among the vines, including butchers, chocolate-makers, beekeepers and oyster fisheries.

Cookery displays, arts and crafts, children’s activities and information about healthy eating were among the other attractions.

Belly dancers, jazz musicians and theatre groups provided live entertainment from a 40ft stage.

The event replaces the various seafood festivals which used to be held at the waterfront, until funding ran out.

Beverly Perkins, one of the main organisers, said: “We wanted to reflect activities across the island, from food to the artists who are inspired by Mersea.

“Rather than being purely commercial, we are also involved in lots of community groups.

“For those of us who live on Mersea, the island is seen as a hidden gem.

“People tend to know about our native oysters, but we also have a whole range of meat producers, honey, quince and preserves.

“There’s an awful lot more to Mersea than our crustacea.”