Cornwall's annual celebration of the sea has been held at the thriving fishing port of Newlyn for the 20th year.
The picturesque harbour town was packed with thousands of bank holiday visitors keen to sample the best in seafood at the Newlyn Fish Festival.
Glorious weather brought thousands out yesterday to enjoy the event, the biggest of its kind in the country.
At this year's festival, celebrity chef Rick Stein, famed for his love of seafood, was on hand to sign copies of his cookery books for eager food lovers to snap-up.
Steve Ryman, festival secretary, said: "After all the hard work everyone has put into making the festival a success, I think it's fair to stay that this year's has been the best ever.
"Rick Stein has done more than anyone else to reawaken our appreciation of seafood and he is also vice-patron of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, to which proceeds from the festival are donated.
"It's a bit early to say how many people have attended this year's festival but I think it's more than last year's figure, which was 14,000.
"The purpose of the festival is primarily to raise funds for the mission and we're hoping to have raised at least £10,000."
In the Seafood Hall a trio of top local chefs joined forces to show spectators what culinary magic they could conjure up.
Kier Meikle from the Navy Inn, Sanjay from the Greenbank Hotel and Andy Appleton from the Jamie Oliver-inspired restaurant Fifteen Cornwall created a mouth-watering fish feast. New to this year's festival was the Old Newlyn Marquee where historic displays from the Newlyn Archive and the Newlyn School of Art were on show.
Sailing legend Pete Goss returned to Newlyn for the event with his lugger Spirit of Mystery.
The 32ft wooden vessel was built to recreate the epic journey seven Newlyn fishermen made to Australia in 1854.
Last year Mr Goss and his crew boarded the replica boat to make the same journey.
Also on the water was gig racing, open fishing boats, coastguard and lifeboats.
Local bands and performers entertained the crowds including Djazz Celtica, the Carn Brea Cloggers, Tom Dale, Halfway Harmony, Bob Devereux, the Clive Palmer Band, the Falmouth School Jazz Band, the Newlyn Male Voice Choir and the 40-strong Blazing Hearts Chorus.
The harbour buzzed with arts, crafts, charity stands, traditional and lobster pot making.
Bilbo the Newfoundland dog who patrols Sennen Cove, near Land's End, with his RNLI lifeguard master Steve Jamieson, also put in an appearance.
Mr Ryman added: "This year, we set out to make it even better in terms of quality and diversity.
"We wanted to include something for everyone and I think we've succeeded."
article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS