A ROARING success ? that was the verdict on the first ever Italian Fair, held in Tavistock Town Hall this month.

The event was organised by Tavistock market trader Giovanni Sponziello in conjunction with assistant hall supervisor Dave Evans.

It saw the Victorian town hall transformed ?piazza?-style, enabling shoppers to buy genuine Italian products, sample wines, drink espresso coffee, listen to continental-style strains performed by an accordion player while watching an artist at work ? there was even an indoor fountain to complete the picture!

Giovanni said: ?The response from people was extremely rewarding ? it seems the people of Tavistock really embraced what we organised and they seemed to have a great time at the same time.

?We had lots of activities, it wasn?t just food and wine ? we even built a nativity on the stage, it was beautiful. People who came on the Friday came back with their children on the Saturday to show it to them, it was really, really nice.?

Giovanni said the success of the event had given him many ideas for future Italian fairs ? and people had already been asking him when the next one would be held.

?From my point of view, Tavistock is a fabulous setting and the piazza gets everyone together, parents and children. Next time we could have umbrellas and tables, maybe even get an opera singer.

?When I started, I thought it was a big hall and I was having problems filling it ? now it seems like a small hall and that?s very much down to the people of Tavistock, who are to be congratulated on their appreciation of the event,? said Giovanni.

Dave Evans said he was ?delighted? at the success of the Italian fair.

He said: ?The whole thing went really, really well. Giovanni managed to set it up in such a way that there was a really good atmosphere ? the accordion music worked very well.

?Every time someone walks into the town hall it?s an opportunity for them to see what can be done there and it was very, very busy, so it was great.?