Food fair in Castle Gardens.; Photo: Bill Smith

It’s four wins out of five for Archers Butchers from Norwich as it once again picked up the ‘Best Sausage’ prize at the Battle of the Bangers competition today.

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Food lovers flocked to the city centre to enjoy a number of events, as part of the second weekend of the EDP Bidwells Norfolk Food Festival.

Among the attractions on offer today was the ever-popular Battle of the Bangers outside the Forum.

Five butchers and their staff cooked sausages and encouraged shoppers to try them for free and then vote for their favourite.

Archers Butchers won the public vote and owner Jamie Archer said: “I don’t know how we keep doing it. I think we are just having a run of luck. We must be popular with the public.”

The sponsor’s winner based on a blind taste test by Anglia Farmers and the Red Cat Partnership was won by Brambles Farm, from Briston, north Norfolk, which entered for the first time. Brambles also came second in the public vote.

Owner Martin Olden said: “I did not think we would do this well, but my staff put in a lot of effort, and it’s a reward for them.”

The Fruitpig Company from West Norfolk came second in the blind test.

The number of visitors at the event, organised by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and run by Sarah de Chair, was a record 4,133.

She said: “It’s the busiest I’ve ever known, but the weather helped.”

There were two new entrants this year, Brambles, and Blofield Farm Shop, near Norwich, who battled it out with Archers Butchers, the Fruitpig Company, from West Norfolk, and EDP Food and Drink Awards finalist Tony Perkins, of Attleborough.

Other events in Norwich city centre today included an all-day food fair at the Castle Gardens, which was transformed into a gastronomic extravaganza, and the Norfolk Young Farmers’ Club also set up a City Farm outside the Forum, and brought a piece of the countryside to the city centre.

See the EDP and the Evening News on Monday for a full report or log onto www.eveningnews24.co.uk or www.edp24.co.uk.