VISITORS spent more than £400,000 during the Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival last summer, Eastleigh councillors has been told.

Executive councillor for leisure Alan Broadhurst told a meeting of the full borough council that the festival attracted nearly 25,000 people, who spent £412,000 at 59 events.

Spending was up by 33 per cent on last year, although there were only three more festival events.

The festival took place over a fortnight in June and July and cost £10,500 to put on.

The tourism team's original budget was just £298 and the rest was raised by sponsorship. They worked in partnership with 90 local traders, organisations and businesses.