Hundreds of people took advantage of the Hampshire Walking and Local Food Festival as an ideal opportunity to explore the county and discover the variety of produce available.

"It was an excellent example of the kind of project we have been encouraging as part of the 'Your Countryside, You're Welcome' campaign," said Countyrside Agency regional director, Duncan Mackay. Many of the walks stopped off at farm shops and pubs and Hampshire beers and sausages particularly featured among the fayre available, together with wines and cider.

The events also offered the opportunity to visit farmers' markets at Petersfield and Winchester.

"The festival was a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to discover more of our beautiful coastline, walks, parks and historical sites," he added.

"It was also a chance to remind people that regular walking is set to play a bigger role in creating a healthier nation. 'Walking the Way to Health' is a national drive, co-ordinated by the Countryside Agency and supported by the British Heart Foundation, which aims to get more people walking, especially those who typically take little exercise or live in areas of poor health."

The Hampshire Walking and Local Food Festival was the fourth to be run by the South East Walks Partnership, of which the county council is a partner - others have been in Kent, Surrey and East Sussex.

Mr Mackay said the intention was to evaluate the success of the festival and its impact on the economy.

"We hope to be able to demonstrate the impact of walking festivals on businesses and to measure the value of the funding made by contributors to the festival," he added.