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the work of winners and runners-up.

The artwork can be any two-dimensional media (painting/photography/textiles).

Entries in three categories (up to 10, 11-16 and adult) will compete for prizes sponsored by Crediton's shops and businesses. Details and entry forms will be in local shops later this month.

The Crediton Arts Centre and Ashgrove Kitchens will be sponsoring the Food Festival, as they did last year.

Last year's Food Festival was a culinary showcase of the excellence of local food and produce and gave those who went along the chance to sample the best the area has to offer.

There were cakes, meats, cheeses, ice cream, cider, vegetables, varieties of tea, savouries, beer and apple-juice to name just a few.

Saturday's main event was a series of cookery demonstrations, the highlight being a demonstration by Chris Archambault from Hotel Barcelona, Exeter, with BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers.

Local chefs who shared their knowledge with large audiences for each of their demonstrations were Steve from Il Casita, Jim and Rosie Cairney and Gretchen Oldland from Woolsgrove Cookery School.

A working kitchen was built on a stage specially for the event by local firm, Ashgrove Kitchens.

There were many stalls selling wares and Devon Women's Food and Farming Union showed a DVD about how food is produced.

There were displays and demonstrations, including cheese making, and local schoolchildren also took part.

There was a film showing and "The Big Lunch" enabled diners to take along their own food and drink to enjoy while watching entertainment, or enjoy some of the cuisine available at the festival.

Hundreds of people attended last year's events, including those from Crediton's twin towns in Europe, and organisers hope that similar numbers will attend this year.

Festival committee member, Pam Barnard, told the Courier: "Despite hard times and some miserable weather now, the festival will cheer everyone up and provide 'something to everyone's taste and for everyone's pocket".