G TEMBY felt cheated after a visit to the recent food festival in Bishop Auckland (HAS, Apr 24).

He claimed the event was really a glorified farmers’ market. Actually, many of these festivals were triggered by the popularity of farmers markets.

Although my wife and I attend farmers’ markets regularly we never, ever, attend these food festivals.

Many of them, especially the one at Leyburn, charge an admission fee, and I resent being charged for what is in essence, a shopping experience.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.

I AGREE with G Temby’s comments about the Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

The festival used to be a huge family event where adults could explore local produce and the rest of the family could enjoy tasteful entertainment.

This year’s festival wasn’t even as good as local farmers’ markets such as Barnard Castle.

As G Temby said, stalls were merely clones of each other and many were from too far distant.

If you liked the produce you couldn’t easily repeat buy.

One of the organisers told The Northern Echo that the festival was “evolving” but what it is evolving into is, in my opinion, a much lesser event than it used to be.

Please bring back the best event Bishop Auckland has ever had – but the way it used to be – a family event for everyone showcasing local producers.

G Shea, Bishop Auckland.