FOODIES have been in their element this week as venues across the Cotswolds hosted events for the second BITE Festival.

The festival kicked off on Saturday with an artisan food market in Old Market Hall, Chipping Campden and a Mad Hatters Tea party, Burford Garden Centre.

Running until Sunday, BITE is taking place across 26 venues and includes breakfasts, brunches, lunches, teas and dinners along with pop-up restaurants, cocktails, masterclasses and talks.

Julian Ebbutt, festival director, said "What a fantastic start to our 2014 Festival - bright blue skies and sunshine greeted visitors to our Artisan Food Fair in Chipping Campden with over 20 local producers displaying their wares and then in the afternoon it was time to don a fancy hat .

"A superb way to kick off the festival in style."

As part of the festival, Chipping Campden School hosted the final of The Great Chipping Campden School Bake Off today (Monday).

Entrants to the baking battle, which was open to students from the school, had to create a sweet or savoury, cake, pastry or bread product, from locally sourced ingredients and cost no more than £10.

Judges Karen Barnes, delicious magazine editor, Campden BRI’s expert judge Maria Bryan and Mini Patel, Head Chef at Cotswold Hotel were impressed by the talent and creativity of the students.

The Champion Baker was awarded to 11-year-old Ciara Davies for her Carrot Cake who also won

first prize in the Key Stage 3 category.

Second prize went to Chloe Wheatcroft, 13, for her Bakewell Tart and third prize to Saffron Ramdhian, 11, for her Lemon Coconut Cake.

Key Stage 4 first prize was awarded to Collette Trippick, 14, for her Topsy-Turvey Surprise Cake, second prize to Paige Sumner, 14, for her Raspberry Trifle Cupcakes and third prize to Chloe Manktelow, 14, for her Lemon Sandwich Cake.

Nicky Troth, Head of Food Technology, who organised the competition, said: “All of the competitors have worked hard to produce some incredibly complex dishes. I am extremely proud of them all.”

For details of BITE festival visit thebite.co.