DEEP fried asparagus was just one of the many delicacies on offer at the weekend's AsparaFest.

The two day festival celebrated the Vale's famous Gras offering up a range of ways to eat the vegetable alongside entertainment including music and stalls.

The two day mini festival got going on Saturday, May 31, at Ashdown Farm, Badsey Road, near Evesham, as one of the main events in the Asparagus Festival, which runs throughout the Vale during the asparagus season.

It's only the second year the event has taken place but organiser Nigel Smith said it was growing into a great festival.

"It was an excellent weekend," he said. "We had been worried about the weather but it was a great success. The numbers were nicely up.

"Everybody said they had a great time and we had some fantastic feedback from people as they left."

Over the weekend a number of acts put on performances both musically and using food.

A demonstration by CBeebies star Stefan Gates saw him bring his Gastronaut Live show to the Vale fields, which was a high point for Mr Smith.

"The high lights would have been certainly yesterday, the Gastronaut. The kids we absolutely wowed by him and the parents as well.

"The main stage worked really well for us and because people were camping they could stay later, it made for a great atmosphere.

"The food was great as well, every stall holder had to provide something to do with asparagus. I was eating fried tempura batter asparagus. The stalls were a cornucopia of colour."

And the event even got a mention on Radio 1 for its quirkiness.

"They were talking about the madness and quirkiness of asparagus and the festival," added Mr Smith. "We are thinking about entering an asparagus candidate in the European elections. I would like to thank everyone that helped out and Wychavon for supporting us."

Two guests at the event spent their time causing some mischief.

Gus the Asparagus man and the Asparafairy joked around with many guests and the latter, played by John Jenkinson, owner of the Evesham Hotel in Coopers Lane, Evesham, was seen tickling guests with spears of asparagus.

He said: "It was good, it's a bit of a laugh and we just fool around. The whole festival has been very good indeed. They do a very good job and the range of stuff on offer meant no one could get bored."

Money raised from the event will go towards the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust and the Bell Tower Appeal.