THE team behind the local food and drink festival are celebrating after been crowned as the best food event in the county at the Somerset Life Food and Drink Awards.

On Thursday night at Brympton House in Yeovil the team went head to head with Exmoor Food Festival and the Taunton Farmers' Market.

Organiser Bev Milner Simonds said: "We want to say a big thank you to our visitors, sponsors, supporters, suppliers, volunteers and local businesses who celebrate with us at the high points, have faith in our aims, back us, come along and generally jump in.

"We do this to make where we live better, bring long term economic benefit to Somerset and to celebrate the fantastic producers. Thank you to those who nominated us. Bring on October 22nd!"

Co-organiser Sarah Milner Simonds added: "When we started the festival four years ago it was a direct reaction to the greengrocers closing - now Burnham-on-Sea home to the best food event in Somerset, the best cafe in Somerset [Calm Gourmet Coffee], the best International Restaurant in Somerset [The Mitre], an award winning fishmongers [Seafoods], a deli [Truckles] supplied by the best butcher in Somerset [Pynes] and the brand new Fabulous Fruit & Veg - we hope that the festival's profile will contribute to their continued success."

The free one-day festival attracted more than 18,000 visitors to the town in May this year and the team are hoping for similar success in October.

The festival is run by residents on a volunteer basis for the benefit of the local traders, producers and visitors.

The aim is to bring a great range of producers and products into the town on the day of the festival.

The team aim for those based within 25 miles of Burnham-on-Sea and the amazing food and drink is supplemented by lots of entertainment and competitions.