AS A member of the Bishop Auckland Town Team, I would like to say what a pleasure it was to be part of yet another hugely successful event.

To see the vast number of people enjoying themselves at last weekend’s Food Festival, and the delight on the faces of the stall traders, was priceless.

I remember being asked to help at the first ever Food Festival back when it only had a handful of stalls, nothing compared to how successful it has become today. Every year it goes from strength to strength and I do hope it continues for many years to come.

A lot of the general public are unaware of the preparations and how much work and effort goes in to organising such an event, not only over the actual weekend but for the months in advance.

In recognition of this, I would like to show my appreciation to everyone in the events team at Durham County Council and that you all deserve a huge pat on the back. Well done!

I would also like to add my personal thanks to everyone who works so hard behind the scenes – often the ones that do the most work but don’t often get the deserved credit.

Without a fantastic team effort, things like this would never happen.

The Food Festival is just one of the events that has definitely put Bishop Auckland on the map and with the plans at Auckland Castle, the future of our town is looking really exciting.

Councillor Lee Brownson, Bishop Auckland Town Team.

THE Food Festival was a huge success once again this year.

Despite some inclement weather, the crowds turned out in force to celebrate the very best of our locally-grown and handmade produce. Over the two days, we saw more than 34,000 people visiting the town.

The festival is always a fantastic moment for Bishop Auckland, shining the spotlight on a town that is currently enjoying a real boost. As well as showcasing what Bishop Auckland has to offer, it also increases trade for local businesses.

It’s also vital to the economy of the whole county and wider region, with traders from across the North of England making the most of the opportunity to increase their profiles, as well as their takings. It is gratifying to know that initial reports show that sales were very good.

Supporting events such as Bishop Auckland Food Festival is a vital way of bringing money into our economy and supporting local trade. The success of this year’s event demonstrates why it is so important that we do this.

I would to thank everyone involved in the event for their hard work in making this another excellent year, particularly the Auckland Castle Trust and Bishop Auckland Town Council and, of course, the people of Bishop Auckland for their continued support.

County Councillor Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, Durham County Council.