FANS of organic fayre had their tastebuds tempted at Perdiswell Leisure Centre when it played host to Worcester's first Organic Food Festival.

Organic food and drink tastings were readily available and there were opportunities to meet local producers and find suppliers of organic foods in the immediate area and beyond.

In addition, the weekend event featured free trade and natural produce, along with information about recycling and being kind to the environment.

But one visitor claims the eco-friendly event was not so friendly on the purse.

Karen Bishop, from Brockhampton Close in Blackpole, said she was disgusted that the festival cost £2.50 to enter.

"I do not pay to enter a farmers market, a farm shop or Marks & Spencer, so why do I have to pay for this," she said.

"It is creating the wrong impression of organic food as elitist and overly expensive, when I would have thought it was in everyone's interest, especially as this is a farming county, to create entirely the opposite impression.

"It is bad enough that other none food events make these charges, but for food it is just not acceptable."

But Dean Wilson, organiser of the event, said the entrance charge had gone towards the cost of hiring the leisure centre and promotion costs.

"There are only six of us in the team and I don't think people realise how much hard work is involved in setting up the event," he said.

"We are still only in our second year and this was our first time in Worcester.

"We were setting up on Saturday until 8pm and then on Sunday we were there from 6am and didn't get home until midnight."

He added that as the festival got a bigger name for itself it was hoped the local councils would get involved and costs would go down.

"We were pleased with how things went in Worcester and we do hope to make this an annual event," he said.