AS sausages sizzled and sautéed vegetables splashed colours across the pan, the aroma of this year’s Sparsholt College food festival was something to behold.

Residents came from far and wide to enjoy the splendour of Hampshire produce at the Taste of Hampshire which saw some of the county’s top chefs cooking up a storm.

Now in its third year, the July 4 celebrations formed part of the month-long Hampshire Fare Food Festival – which was launched at a special presentation for invited guests at The Pig in Brockenhurst just a few weeks ago.

Their head chef James Golding welcomed its visitors with an opening speech during which he promised them a festival to remember.

And it was certainly just that at the weekend’s culinary feast when he and other leading chefs covered a range of techniques throughout their demonstrations.

They were on hand to give inside-tips on how to handle Hampshire produce – of which was on show with the help of Hampshire Farmers’ Market stallholders.

Mr Golding was joined from Andy Mackenzie and Olly Rouse from Lainston House – also based in Sparsholt – as well as the Chesil Rectory’s Damian Brown, Mark Price of River Cottage, Luke Matthews of Chewton Glen and Phil Yeomans of Marwell Hotel.