The 19th annual Falmouth Oyster Festival more than lived up to expectations, attracting over 40,000 visitors who consumed almost 20,000 of oysters over the four days of the event.

The festival, which is a celebration of the start of the oyster dredging season, began with the Oyster Man leading a mini parade of children from St Mary's, St Francis, Marlborough, Falmouth Primary and King Charles schools into the marquee on Events Square. The youngsters then delighted visitors with their performance of the song The Oyster Is Our Friend before they declared the festival officially open.

They were followed by Chris Eden who shared his Michelin starred culinary skills with a captivated crowd, working alongside Annie Sibert, of My Fish Kitchen.

A packed programme each day of talented chefs demonstrating their gastronomic flair and a wide range of music from folk to jazz entertained record crowd numbers. The local craft and food marquees were buzzing with shoppers, Skinners and South West Bars supplied liquid refreshment and St Michael’s Hotel and Spa hosted the oyster bar.

The local schools' Grand Oyster Parade was a mass of sound, colour and accomplished stilt walking. It saw pupils from the town's five primary schools and Falmouth School make their way from The Moor through the town centre on onto Events Square on Friday afternoon.

Back at the marquee, the Hot Chef Challenge was won by Arty Williams; the much sought after oyster shucking champion title went to Johnny Ball; the large Working Boat Harbour Race was won by John Peters in Rita; the small Working Boat Race by Mike Stratton in Deliverance and winner of the oyster dredging boat race, was Ranger in Alf Smithers.

This year the Oyster Fisherman provided fascinating information about their lives as oystermen and a surprise guest Phil Mitchell from Channel 4’s The Catch talked about his life as a deep-sea fisherman and shared a rare insight into the reality of life at sea.

Festival director Mike Rangecroft said: “Once again the public have voted with their feet and supported Falmouth’s Oyster Festival. Much of the festival follows a tried and tested recipe but each year we try and improve the layout and add elements to the festival to keep it fresh. The support of partners and sponsors and the goodwill of many is what really makes the event a great success."

The Falmouth Marine Band and The Oggymen brought the curtain down on this year's festival on Sunday afternoon in front of a packed crowd.

Next year's Falmouth Oyster Festival will take place from Thursday to Sunday, October 13 to 16.