THE Forest Showcase food festival returned to the Speech House on Sunday (October 3) as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The day highlighted the high quality food, drink and crafts from more than 100 producers based in the Forest and Wye Valley.

Despite some very sharp showers throughout the day, large numbers of food lovers in search of tasty treats attended the festival in the field next to Speech House Hotel.

Many of the stalls and stands selling food had long queues.

Products ranged fiery - and milder - chillies produced in Tidenham by Chilli Rogues to Holbrooks ice cream which is made using local ingredients at the other end of the district in Kempley.

Visitors could also be inspired to "to try this at home" with demonstrations in the cookery theatre.

Gareth Jenkins, the head chef at the Speech House Hotel, explained the use of salt in cooking and in curing products such as fish.

He also teamed up with one of his suppliers, Deb Blackmore of Plump Hill Farm in Mitcheldean to cook a lamb steak.

Making his debut in the Forest Showcase cookery theatre was Scott Garthwaite, ’the punk chef’.

Scott is deaf and is a TV presenter for the British Sign Language Trust.

He explained his techniques and food philosophy with the assistance of a sign language interpreter.

Debbie Jones of the Forest Deli in Coleford did a demonstration showcasing store cupboard ingredients to brighten up midweek meals.

There was also plenty for the children to do with Jitterbug Circus sharing some of their skills and parent and child cookery classes led by cookery teacher and healthy eating advisor Glyn Owen.

In the music tent there were performances by the Ragtime Jug Orchestra and the Paris Jazz Cafe Swing Band.