MOUTHS watered and tastebuds were tickled as an inaugural food festival got underway this weekend.

Despite a soggy start, hundreds flocked to the Distinctly Delicious Darlington Festival of Food to sample tasty treats made by some of the region’s artisan food producers and brewers.

As well as food and drink stalls, the event also featured a number of demonstrations by top chefs, including Rockliffe Hall’s David Garlinge, and a cocktail workshop by Voodoo Cafe bar staff.

Running alongside the event on Saturday was the Love Your Local Market event, which saw 40 traders descend on Darlington as part of a national campaign to boost local economy.

On Sunday, the town’s market square played host to a pop-up cinema for screenings of Disney’s Ratatouille, during which film-goers could taste and smell some of the treats as they appeared on screen.

Shopping trolley dance display team, Granny Turismo, were also on hand to entertain crowds, along with tricycle-riding tea ladies, Jean and Morag.

The festival continues tomorrow (Monday, May 26) with the return of the Love Your Local Market event, and culminates in the unveiling and parading of a giant cake version of Locomotion No1 – the world’s first passenger engine on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

The cake features 32 carriages – the exact number that was pulled by the engine – which will be decorated by community groups from across the region before being sliced up and offered to visitors.

Decoration begins in the market square at 11am with the parade starting at 2pm.

For more information visit distinctdarlington.co.uk