Around 6,500 people visited a series of attractions at Celebrate the Taste – the best turnout for three years at the event hosted by the Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton.

Children relished the opportunity to 'milk' a wooden cow and many scratched their heads trying to identify the grains in a special challenge.

There was also bread making, an exhibition of food and farming themed schoolwork and more than 80 stalls showcasing local produce including wines, sauces, ciders and beers, locally-produced meats, cheeses, spices, ice cream, cakes and confectionery.

Museum spokeswoman Cathy Clark said: "The breadmaking activity was really popular with people of all ages, from toddlers who squidged their dough into funny shapes, to grown-ups who were keen to learn about it all and took it much more seriously.

"They then all took their bread home to bake.

"The exhibition of school work was also very popular, especially appreciated by older people who thought it was great children were were being reminded of how farming used to be as they remembered it."

Organised by A Taste of Sussex and Sussex Enterprise, the event celebrated downland farming to mark the Year of Food and Farming.