VISITORS flocked in to get a whiff of the smells and delicious tastes of the Tavistock 'Real' Cheese Fair over the weekend, which was deemed to be an 'unmitigated success'.

Organiser of the fair, and owner of Country Cheeses Gary Jungheim, with his wife, Elise, said that in excess of 3, 500 people attended the event, which was more than they were expecting.

Gary said: 'It was an unmitigated success, quite phenomenal. We weren't expecting it to be as busy as two years ago, but it was actually busier.

'We gave up counting at three and a half thousand visitors. In previous years it has got up to that many visitors and evened out, this year we were still handing out brochures to people entering the fair two hours after we stopped counting.'

Mr Jungheim said they had some 'knockout' cheeses this year, including Camelot — a cheese that is fairly new and three and a half feet in diameter.

'The overall supportiveness of everyone concerned is quite staggering. When you see it all going on it makes you feel quite humble. After twenty-odd years there is a huge cheese family that has formed. It has grown into something quite spectacular.

'We would like to thank all supporters and visitors both local and holiday makers who were so enthusiastic that the cheese makers were really inspired by their interest.

'Also, thanks to the guys in the town hall who couldn't have been more helpful and to the "cheese girls" for all your hard work, smiling to the end!'