Nearly 80 artisan food and drink producers and more than 40 local arts and crafts exhibitors helped provide a fun family day as the Mid Wales Autumn Fayre returned to the Royal Welsh Showground at the end of October.

As well as selling their products at the weekend event there were a number of live demonstrations from talented chefs and butchers.

Arranged by the Culinary Association of Wales, the live cookery demonstrations celebrated International Chefs Day.

A pop-up restaurant sponsored by @fingersandforks served up a menu showcasing products from food producers at the event and provided a Halloween Children’s Afternoon Tea, with 80 places available to be booked each day.

Continuing the Halloween theme, visitors had a chance to pick their own pumpkin at the event where there were also street food vendors and entertainment.

Entries rocketed from 60 last year to 150, including 10 show models, and two Gilbern racing cars that joined more than 100 classic cars, motorbikes and tractors, as well as eight rally cars.

Andrew Powell, who organises the event with support from Cambrian Training Company, was delighted with the enthusiastic support from exhibitors and skilled craftspeople.

“The support from Welsh companies and exhibitors has been fantastic” he said. “I have been taking up to 15 calls a day in the last few weeks from people wanting to exhibit.

“Our mission is to create a great family event where we can promote Mid Wales and showcase Welsh artisan products, together with trucks and classic vehicles from across Wales.”

A careers zone, sponsored by Cambrian Training Company, gave visitors a chance to ‘Have a Go’ and experience different elements of the hospitality industry first hand, including taking part in 'Race the Professional' competition.

Underlining the value of hospitality apprenticeships, apprentices Rosie Koffer, Owen Fleming and Toyah Skilton from Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes gave a cookery demonstration on the Sunday.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, who is also Culinary Association of Wales president, was one of the chef demonstrators, joining Colin Gray from Capital Cuisine, Caerphilly, globetrotting Builth Wells chef Jamie Tully who has cooked for the rich and famous on superyachts, Gareth Johns from The Wynnstay Hotel, Machynlleth and Will Richards from Cambrian Training Company.

Members of the Craft Butchery Team Wales also displayed the skills that clinched them sixth place on their debut at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Sacramento, California.