THOUSANDS of people visited Lydiard Park over the weekend to enjoy a festival full of funfair rides, firey flavours and fragrant fromage.
The bravest of the bunch tackled tastebud-torching challenges to prove they could handle the heatt.
The Cheese and Chilli Festival returned to Swindon to offer food fans an array of tasty treats with vendors from around Wiltshire and further afield, serving hungry festivalgoers all maner of spicy and savoury snacks and sauces.
Matt Hall started The Cheese Wedge Company at 19 and employs his parents in the Shrewsbury business.
The 25-year-old offered 15 flavoured cheddars - cheese stuffing, saucy shallots, drunken ginger - to approving customers.
He said: "It's always really good here, the customers are a lovely, friendly bunch. I have regulars in Swindon who come back each time the festival's on, which is nice.
"I enjoy trying flavours and going to shows. There's nothing better than when someone loves your food.
"Not everything I try works - a coconut and rum one was supposed to taste like a Bounty but I couldn't quite get it there, and I loved the cheese and beans one but it was a bit of a novelty, you wouldn't buy a whole block."
Hotel manager Andrew Salter from Tunbridge Wells started his own business Salter's after turning 50 then spent the last decade selling MustChup - spiced and unspiced mixtures of mustard and ketchup.
He said: "You're never too old to start a business, it's a dream I've always had. Everyone you meet is a potential customer you can stay in contact with - I have 5,000 in my database.
"You can use MustChup for a marinade, a cooking, dipping, a table sauce, chicken wings, chilli con carne - I've created a whole recipe book.
"I've done a lot of these festivals, but this was my first time in Swindon."
Along with these specialised attractions, the summer event included live music, family-friendly entertainment, and funfair rides.
Organiser Simon Stewart said: "I used to do sports events but wanted to go into food and chose my passions - cheese and chilli. Fortunately, people seemed to share that interest too.
"It's a quirky show and we are committed to providing a fun day out for not a lot of money.
"Events like these are vital for the independent traders with their unique products and it's great that the community comes to support them."
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