THOUSANDS descended on a Hampshire town to celebrate all things watercress.

The nationally acclaimed annual Alresford Watercress Festival returned in a blaze of sunshine, with organisers showing off all that is good about "the superb locally grown, delicious and versatile crop".

On the third Sunday of May each year, the market town becomes the site of a huge street festival.

This year's winner of the Watercress Eating Championships, which are now in the Guinness Book of World Records, was Glen Walsh, who was congratulatd by BBC South Today's Laura Trant.

Dozens of stalls showcased local food and drink producers. Others sold arts, crafts, jewellery and clothing, items for house, garden and much else besides.

A cavalcade of musicians, dancers and children accompanied the Watercress King and Queen up Broad Street as they distributed freshly cut bunches of watercress to festival goers.

Throughout the day, musicians and street performers entertained on the main stage, in St. John’s Church and on the streets, while chefs demonstrated watercress-inspired dishes.

For the young, there were circus skills workshops, face painting, Punch and Judy shows and a petting farm.