Tastebuds were tingling as thousands of people headed for the harbourside to enjoy a weekend of aromas and flavours at the Organic Food Festival.

Families wandered among stands selling a huge array of products, from bread and cheese to meat, vegetables and wine, buying and sampling as they went along.

The sunshine helped swell numbers, with an estimated 2,000 visitors going through the gates in the first two hours on the opening day.

Most of the exhibitors came from the South West to what is Europe's leading organic festival.

But traders from as far away as Scotland, Ireland and France were also keen to tempt families to try their produce.

The two-day event is one of Bristol's most popular features, but despite its success in previous years, it had come close to being abandoned this year, firstly because of the economic downturn and then a hitch over health and safety assessments.

But when the go-ahead was given just three months ago, more than 170 exhibitors rallied round and signed up to take part.

North Somerset-based Yeo Valley Organic – best known for its yoghurt but also other dairy products – also agreed to return as sponsor.

Company spokeswoman Alison Sudbury said: "We've sponsored the festival right from the start and were happy to continue.

"The organisers did a fantastic job getting everything ready and we were very busy.

"The weather was lovely and sunny so people were buying lots of cool bags. People know we are local and it's fantastic to know they still love our yoghurt ."

Eliza Ross, owner of Wrington Greens, said: "We sell mostly vegetables but also fruit, cider and apple juice. This is our third year trading and we've been producing veg boxes for about a year, as well as running a farm shop.

"It's nice to come to the festival and have a chat to people and talk about what we do."

Matthew Shaw, managing director of Bedminster-based Bart Spices, said: "The weather certainly helped bring people to the festival and we had a successful time.

"Our organic range is mostly available in independent retailers but other products are in supermarkets and it's nice to meet people who have seen them on sale but didn't realise we were local."

Among the crowds enjoying the event were Rich and Alicia Pope of St George, with 15-month-old Jayesh, who was keen to sample some of the food on offer.

Rich, 46, said: "This is our first visit to the festival and I think we will come back again. It's nice to have so many products here right on our doorstep that you might not see elsewhere."

Alicia, 33, said: "I did think it would be nice to have a few more vegetarian products as there seemed to be quite a lot of meat-based items but we've certainly enjoyed our visit."

As well as the food, there was also live music in a festival fringe area, gardening and cookery workshops and a pavilion where children could taste produce from carrots to grapes.