SALCOMBE’S first Crabfest raised more than £10,000 for local charities after 3,000 people flooded Salcombe on the May Day bank holiday.

Sunday, May 1, saw the first Crabfest, organised by The Rotary Club of Salcombe and sponsored by Favis of Salcombe and Coast and Country Cottages, celebrate crab and all things seafood with over 40 exhibitors and opened by TV legend Mary Berry from BBC’s Great British Bake Off.

All the money raised by Salcombe Crabfest will be donated to a number of local charities including The Salcombe Young Centre, Fishermen’s Mission, Fish Quay Defibrillator Fund, KM United youth football club and the Devon Air Ambulance night landing survey.

Organiser, John Sampson of The Rotary Club of Salcombe said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who joined us at Salcombe Crabfest including visitors, exhibitors, sponsors, patrons and our team of volunteers, who all helped make the day very special.

‘We are absolutely delighted by the reaction of everyone who was there and the feedback we have received since has been amazing. Importantly we have raised valuable funds for really worthy charities within our local community.

‘We are already planning next year’s event on Sunday, April 30, and we hope to put on another great event for Salcombe.’

After Mary Berry opened the festival, she spent over an hour signing books for the crowds that had flocked to Salcombe. Former royal correspondent Jennie Bond interviewed Mary Berry about her life and passion for this area at a patrons event hosted by Salcombe Holiday Homes, Salcombe Dairy and Soar Mill Cove Hotel.

The demonstration kitchen at Reddish Marine was packed with audiences watching chef demonstrations from local and renowned chefs with full commentary by Michelin star chef Alex Aitken.

Visitors also had the opportunity to see a hands-on crab picking tuition from Favis of Salcombe, commercial crab fishing talks, crab pot making and music.

Exhibitors included The Bake House, Susie Watson Designs, The Little Pig Food Company, Salcombe Tourist Information Centre, Island Street Bar and Grill, Riverford Organics, Charles Head, The National Coast Watch, The Bakery, Cherry Tree Preserves, Bell and Loxton, Quercus Devon Ales, Rolys Fudge, South Devon Chilli Farm, South Devon Pizza Company, Sharpham Wine and Cheese, Yeowards Boatyard, The Devon Beach Company, The Oyster Shack, The Nautique Foundation, South Devon and Channel Shell Fishermen and many more, as well as craft and face painting activities to occupy the children courtesy of Coast and Country Cottages!

Salcombe Crabfest was concluded with a ticketed gourmet pop-up supper in the evening for over 80 people, made by award-winning chef and author, Jane Baxter from Wild Artichokes, which also raised money for the charities supported by this year’s event.

A full photo gallery from Norsworthy Photography will be available soon, please visit Salcombe Crabfest website: www.salcombecrabfest.co.uk.