TOO many cooks spoil the broth they say, but in Wimborne this weekend the sight of the town's top chefs doing culinary battle at 20 paces only served to add spice to the town's first ever food festival.

Launched on Friday evening at a civic ceremony attended by the town's great and good, the nine-day festival is packed with more than 45 delicious events ranging from food and drink tasting to Victorian cooking, food for health, farm tours and storytelling for the kiddies.

The Echo-backed festival kicked off with a food fare marquee in the Corn Market on Saturday, showcasing local produce and local chefs in action for the final of the Wimborne Signature Dish competition.

Onlookers were able to vote for their favourite demonstration and enter a free prize draw to win a meal at that restaurant, courtesy of the Daily Echo. Ian Gibbs from the Coventry Arms won the competition by a single vote from Shoukat Ali, the head chef at the Square's Red Fort restaurant. "It was a fantastic day," said Mr Gibbs.

"It was very exciting. We put on some cracking demonstrations. It was great to work alongside the Red Fort restaurant, which has a lovely ethic," he added.

Other events at the weekend included the chance to sample an array of produce including clotted cream teas and homemade cakes from Delihart's café in the Corn Market, and bread and patisserie tasting and an organic bread workshop run by Long Crichel Bakery.

This workshop is being run daily, along with the chance to munch on traditional Dorset Cream Teas at the Laughing Pot.

Spill the Beans is holding a Fairtrade Day on Thursday.

And for lovers of the good old British cooked breakfast, food fans should pop along to Cranborne Estate, which they will also be able to tour.

Full details of all the events can be found in the official guide available from shops, restaurants, pubs and tourist information centres in and around the town.

There is also a festival website with full details at wimbornefoodfestival.co.uk