TOP notch food and drink from across the South West was on display at a special event in West Devon last Wednesday.

Hatherleigh Community Centre played host to a new local food and drink event, run in conjunction with Devon Food and Drink, the Ruby Country Initiative and the Dartmoor Partnership.

The event was designed to highlight the very best of the region's produce.

Funding for the day came from Devon Renaissance and, while the event was open to the public, it was also aimed at the hospitality industry to help support regional food and drink producers.

Robin Deitch, West Devon food and drink network co-ordinator, was delighted with the event's success, particularly the opportunities it helped create between producers and the hospitality industry. The event was so successful producers are hoping it will happen again on a more frequent basis.

Mr Deitch said: 'It was very good indeed and an excellent networking, and good marketing, opportunity for all the producers.'

Producers displaying their wares included Higher Fingle Farm, the recent winners of the Country Living and Waitrose Made in Britain Awards, Pyman Pate, the Gilead Foundation, Dunstaple Farm Ice Cream, West Lake Orchards and Willow Tree Farm.

Further information about many of the producers is available at http://www.lovetheflavour.com">www.lovetheflavour.com